Privatization of Medical Care in Canada

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Gordon, Michael, Jack Mintz, and Duanjie Chen. “Funding Canada’s health care system: a tax-based alternative to privatization.” (1998): Print.

In this journal the authors cry that the health care which used to be funded by the government is currently under attack. Even though the Canada Health Acts mandated the government to provide a universal, comprehensive and equally accessed public administration, there are certain strains which are affecting the efficacy of the system which had served the Canadians so well (Gordon, Mintz, and Chen, 1). The healthcare is facing problems because of the governments urge to do away with the deficits. This has led to the closures of several hospitals, layoffs of several staff members as well as diminished access to some components of the health care.

So as to counter this problem, several commentators and physicians have called for privatization of the health care system. They suggest that the system might fail to meet the needs of the citizens if there is no infusion of new financial resources. They purport that a public system which is being supported by a private tier would help in relieving the pressure on the public sector and hence benefit all Canadians.

“Health Care Privatization: Women Are Paying the Price | Canadian Women’s Health Network.” Home | Canadian Women’s Health Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.

This research which was done identified five different ways through which the Canadian healthcare is being privatised. One of the ways through which this is done is by shifting payment to individuals. Opportunities have also been expanded for the private or the profit companies in the health business. Thirdly, care has been shifted from the public institutions to community based institutions. Another way through which privatization has been done is by shifting work from full time professional health care to unpaid family members. Lastly, it has been done by adopting the management strategies of the private business which is treating health as a market commodity. These changes have happened so quick that very few have realised.

Goldman, Brian. “The future is now! New players who are making a difference in Canada’s health care system (Plenary).” Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing (2009): n. pag. Print.

There was a meeting was convened during mid-September 2004 and it was agreed that health care services which would be given to the people would one which is universal, accessible, comprehensive, portable as well as publicly administered health insurance. There was also to be access to the medically services which are based on the needs of an individual but not the ability to pay. Reforms were also to be created to ensure that the Canadians were in a position to access the health care whenever they needed them. These conditions have not been met. What is now being seen is that those in authority are trying to privatize this sector for their own gain. Medical health care has been turned into a business (Goldman, 3).

NIEDERDEPPE, JEFF, Q. L. BU, PORISMITA BORAH, DAVID A. KINDIG, and STEPHANIE A. ROBERT. “Message Design Strategies to Raise Public Awareness of Social Determinants of Health and Population Health Disparities.” Milbank Quarterly (2008): n. pag. Print.

A research which was done by the Milkbank Quartely also revealed some facts about the the Canadian health care system. The result of the research indicated that the 91% of the citizens revealed that they have regular source of care but only from a family physician. They have expressed their discontentment in the fact whenever they wanted to access the primary and the referred care, it proved quite difficult. Some revealed that when they were sick and needed an appointment with the doctor, they couldn’t succeed and had to wait for sometimes up to six days. This also proves that the physicians have been very busy and they have very; little for the common citizen. This is only leading to one thing, privatization.

“The Health of Canadians: The Federal Role Interim Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.” (0): Print.

This journals presents the following as the key aspects as the factors affecting privatization of the Canadian health care. It states that the Canadian publicly funded healthcare is facing a lot of cost control pressures. Currently the primary source of funding for the hospital is through a global budget. Through this model a fixed amount of funding is distributed to each hospital to pay for all the hospital based services just for a short period of time. The funding hospital following the basis of the type and volume of services offered has currently become an international norm. This is something which used not to happen in the past.

Uplekar, Mukund W. “Private health care.” Social Science & Medicine 45.34 (2000): 8. Print.

This journal tries to compare the healthcare which is found in Canada and that which is being offered in the United States. It reveals that the healthcare in the US is slightly higher than the one being offered in Canada. The administrative costs are double and the funds enters into the profits and in patient care which is found in the American style which is fully privatized.

Governments of several countries have tried to lower their expenditure to reduce deficits and pay for tax cuts. Despite these steps which are being made, the demand for healthcare continues to grow every day. As result, individuals have taken it upon themselves to provide the citizens with the needed healthcare.

Stinson, Jane, Nancy Pollak, and Marcy Cohen. “THE PAINS OF PRIVATIZATION How Contracting Out Hurts Health Support Workers, Their Families, and Health Care.” (0): Print.

It is believed that Canadians can achieve further improvements in their wellbeing by combining their individual lifestyle which emphasize fitness. It should also emphasize prevention of disease and the health care promotion with collocate action on social, occupational and the environmental causes of disease. It also says that the future improvements in the healthcare offered to the Canadians will need the government, health professionals, the Canadians themselves as well as the voluntary organizations to collaborate with one other.

Another thing that is being proposed by this journal is that continued access to quality health care without any financial or other barriers will be very necessary in maintaining and improving the health and the wellbeing of the Canadians.

“The Health of Canadians: The Federal Role Interim Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.” (0): Print.

The privatization of the Canadian healthcare has adverse effects on women mostly. They are the ones who mostly affected. The women need to visit the doctors more than any other member of the society. As a result they are the ones who bears the cost. In Canada, the governments have been the main source of funding for the health care because they play a major role in the insurance market. The components that the government uses to intervene in this field mostly cite the economic and the social equity as the main reason. This is however changing. The help they use to send is now diminishing and the people are forced to fund by themselves. The reason which they give is that the government intervention is necessary so as to correct potential problem for social equity.

Work cited

Barker, Paul. “The Canada Health Act and the cabinet decision-making system of Pierre Elliott Trudeau.” Canadian Public Administration-administration Publique Du Canada 56.89 (1989): 13. Print.

Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI). N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014

Goldman, Brian. “The future is now! New players who are making a difference in Canada’s health care system (Plenary).” Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing (2009): n. pag. Print.

Gordon, Michael, Jack Mintz, and Duanjie Chen. “Funding Canada’s health care system: a tax-based alternative to privatization.” (1998): Print.

“Health Care Privatization: Women Are Paying the Price | Canadian Women’s Health Network.” Home | Canadian Women’s Health Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.

“The Health of Canadians: The Federal Role Interim Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.” (0): Print.

The National Network on Environments and Women’s Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.

Parliament of Canada Web Site – Site Web du Parlement du Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.

Stinson, Jane, Nancy Pollak, and Marcy Cohen. “THE PAINS OF PRIVATIZATION How Contracting Out Hurts Health Support Workers, Their Families, and Health Care.” (0): Print.

Uplekar, Mukund W. “Private health care.” Social Science & Medicine 45.34 (2000): 8. Print.

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