The Canadian Healthcare System

Flashcards covering key concepts and vocabulary related to the Canadian healthcare system.

1867 Constitution Act

Divided powers between the federal and provincial governments.

Section 91

Details powers of the Federal Government including taxation and military.

Section 92

Details powers of Provincial Governments including hospitals and justice.

1957 Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act

Provided federal funds for insured hospital and diagnostic services.

1962 province-wide insurance

Saskatchewan introduced insurance for all doctors’ services.

1966 Medical Care Act

Introduced cost-sharing between federal and provincial governments.

1984 Canada Health Act

Established principles of the Canadian healthcare system.

Portability

Residents entitled to coverage under their home province’s insurance plan.

Accessibility

Insured persons have reasonable access to healthcare facilities.

Universality

All insured persons are entitled to the same level of healthcare.

Comprehensiveness

Medically necessary health services must be insured under Canadian healthcare.

Public Administration

Health insurance administration must be managed under public authority.

Primary Care

First point of access with the healthcare system for general medical problems.

Secondary Care

More specialized care under the referral of a primary care provider.

Tertiary Care

Hospitalization or higher level of specialty care delivered in a hospital.

Quaternary Care

Higher level of specialty care for extremely unusual or specialized cases.

Population Health

Goal to improve health status and reduce health inequities.

Health Expenditures

Costs of delivering universal healthcare can vary greatly between provinces.

Public vs Private Funding

In 2017, about 70% of healthcare was publicly funded.

Fee-for-Service

Common payment model for physicians in Canada.

Current Trends in Healthcare

Emphasis on primary care, health promotion, and integration of services.