Politics and health care: who’s in charge?
With a 2015 federal election on the horizon, many political strategists are wondering if there is a way they can leverage Canadians’ concern for their health care system into more votes. But these strategists and their parties should be wary of the pitfalls when trying to score points with federal health policy initiatives. Their […]
We need to hear more from stakeholders, public
More than 40 years ago, two GPs in Burlington had an innovative idea. Why not expand the traditional role of the primary care office nurse? Researchers at McMaster’s then-new medical school agreed to test the concept. Families were randomized to receive usual care, or care by a nurse practitioner (NP) in partnership with the […]
Investing in Canadian health care
When you ask Canadians what they are most proud of about our country, you’ll often hear the same answer: universal health care. We see it as a fundamental Canadian value. Canadians voted Tommy Douglas, the driving force behind our universal health-care system, as the greatest Canadian. Health care is required to be universally available […]
Health care does not need more money; it needs a systems change to give better value for money
If a nation’s spending per capita was the sole determinant of health the United States of America, at $8,805 per person, would have the best health care system in the world. Instead, the United Kingdom, with the lowest ($3,405) per capita spending of 11 OECD countries, consistently ranks in the top three, finishing first […]
Tories have turned their backs on health care
Conservatives have turned their backs on health care in Canada, downloading costs and responsibilities onto the provinces and refusing to act on issues in the federal domain. They are failing to think and act strategically, a pattern that that will have long-term consequences for years to come. New Democrats are committed to looking at […]
Improving health care is more than funding levels
Canadians benefit from a universal health-care system that provides access to high-quality care, supports positive health outcomes, and contributes to a healthy and productive society. Improving health care is an ongoing challenge and building on a strong foundation is critical. That is why our government continues to be committed to a strong, publicly-funded, universally-accessible […]
Refugee health advocates vow to fight on as government appeals court ruling
The federal government’s fight to relieve itself of refugee health obligations is far from over, promises a group that successfully fought the government’s decision in court. In her July decision on the federal government’s changes to refugee health care, Federal Court Justice Anne Mactavish wrote that “the effects of the 2012 changes to the […]
Focus on social determinants would improve lives, even if it wouldn’t cut costs
While experts are divided over whether improving a population’s social determinants of health would lower overall health-care costs, there is widespread agreement that governments should focus on this to improve Canadians’ quality of life. Social determinants of health are the conditions in which a person lives, and according to the World Health Organization, “are […]
Canada should look beyond Anglo-American models for health-care financing: experts
While many developed countries have been innovating in health-care financing, Canada has developed a severe case of mismanagement and a chronic lack of innovation in financing of the industry, according to several experts. While other countries that invest a similar amount in their health-care industries are working to get the best bang for their […]
We’re in an era of restraint in health-care spending in Canada
In the wake of new health expenditure data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), the evidence continues to mount that Canadian public health expenditure growth is moderating. Moreover, adjusting for inflation and population growth, per capita provincial and territorial government health expenditures have actually declined since their peak in 2010. From a […]
