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Canada has a government-funded Home Health Care Services system, which is funded and administered by each province and territory. Canada’s health care ensures that all the residents have equal access to public health care on uniform terms and conditions. The health care is funded through taxation and public funds and available to all Canadians without any out of pocket cost. Canada’s health care is considered domestically and globally as a model. However, despite its excellent reputation, some issues are rising from the past few years. Such as inequality of Medicare facilities in urban and rural areas. Lack of resources for the aboriginal population. Long wait times in hospitals and sometimes lack of specialists.
Prescribed Drugs Not Supported
All the services outside the hospital and doctor’s office are excluded from Medicare. The pharmaceuticals are not funded either while the pharmaceutical prices in Canada are second highest in the world after U.S. Canada’s Health Care does not cover the cost for the prescribed drugs. As a result, nearly 10 percent of Canadians who do not have private health coverage cannot afford the drugs prescribed to them and are having to choose between food and medication. [1]
In order to address this issue the report of the Advisory Council study shows that in order to implement a national prescription drug program it will cost $15 billion a year once fully funded. The council proposes a $2 co-payment for common drugs and $5 for less common ones. [2]
U.S Want To Buy From Canada in Bulk
The U.S. wants to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada in bulk. While this can lead to considerable quality and access issues. Trying to provide drugs to a country ten times Canada’s size can result in the shortage of the pharmaceuticals in Canada itself. The survey from Canadian Pharmacist Association shows that one in four Canadian reported to be impacted by drug shortage. [3]
Waiting Times in Canada Health Care
Waiting time for specialist visits, diagnosis and surgical procedures have increased significantly over the past years. Specialist physicians surveyed report a median waiting time of 20.9 weeks between referral from a general practitioner and receipt of treatment—longer than the wait of 19.8 weeks reported in 2018. [4] Wait times have significant consequences such as increased pain, suffering and mental distress. It may also result in chronic and irreversible illness or permanent disability. Although efforts are being made to reduce the waiting time yet, residents of Canada have to wait for a long time to receive necessary medical treatment.
Lack of Resources For Aboriginal Population
Canada’s population consists of people of many distinct cultural groups and nations. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples face more health issues than the non-aboriginal Canadians. Due to the Inequality in Medicare, there is a disproportionate burden of disease and health problems. The aboriginal population faces health related issues such as high infant and young child mortality ; high maternal morbidity and mortality; infectious disease ;malnutrition ;shortened life expectancy ; accidents, poisoning, suicide, interpersonal violence, cardiovascular and other diseases. Although Canada does realize its responsibility to provide health care facilities to natives. Canada should not waste time or neglect the needs of its residents for it has a health care system, which serves as a model all over the world. The issues related to aboriginal population’s health can be resolved by logistics and better health facilities.
References:
[1] [Online]. Available: https://globalnews.ca/news/5981416/national-pharmacare-commentary.
[2] [Online]. Available: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pharmacare-hoskins-recommendations-final-report-1.5171517.
[3] [Online]. Available: https://www.pharmacists.ca/cpha-ca/assets/File/cpha-on-the-issues/CPhADrugShortagesandRecallsSurvey2018.pdf.
[4] [Online]. Available: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/waiting-your-turn-wait-times-for-health-care-in-canada-2019.
