canada healthcare system

Federal government

• sets national principles through Canada Health Act, provides funding and ensures compliance 

Provincial/Territorial Governments

• Plan, finance, and manage healthcare services, including hospitals and physician payments 

Private sector

Involved in service provision (doctors operate as private entities but bill the public sector)

Hospitals bill provincial admin and federal government for fees-

NOT PATIENT

Strengths

Universal access to medically necessary services

No direct billing for covered services

Less administrative burden than multi-payer systems

Weaknesses

Long wait times for elective procedures

Limited coverage for dental, vision, and outpatient pharmaceuticals

Variability in care due to provincial control

Each province and territory has the ability to

• design, manage, and fund its own healthcare services

• Creates flexibility to address unique needs to each region BUT creates variability in the availability/quality and access to care 

Costs and Financing

•  through taxation at federal and provincial levels, costs managed via global budgets and capitation systems for hospitals 

Private insurance exists but is supplemental for non-covered services

Universal coverage 

• For essential services, but with geographic disparities, especially in rural areas 

• Non covered services (dental, vision, drugs) lead to inequalities 

system type

singler payer-tax funded

coverage

universal for ESSENTIAL services

costs

lower per capita spending

efficiency

less administrative burden

health equity

stronger focus on equity

cost strengths

Public funding controls expenses; lower administrative burden

cost challenges

rising pharmeceutical costs

quality strenghts

high life expectancy

strong primary care

quality challenges

long wait time for specialist and elective procedures

access strengths

universal coverage for essential services yay!

access challenges

gaps in non covered services (vision, dental, drugs)