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Assignment 2 “ Defining Health Equity” Health Policy and Process-HLSC 3631U By: Mouin El-Zouheiri To: Dr. T. Bryant Student #: 100513949 Due date: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 Introduction With the growing number of inequalities and the gaps between income among Canadians, the need of good health and health equity is a essential process of creating opportunities and putting into place the socio-economic, ecosystem, political and structural means to support their success. The need to understand on how social determinants of health impact health as well as, inequalities, education, employment, housing and food security. Improving the social and well being of individuals through the lens of health equity. Defining health equity …show more content…
Health equity refers to the overall health of Canadians and everyone getting the same treatment, whether you are rich or poor. Having equal opportunities and equitable access to health services in regards in the value of respect and diversity among individuals and communities. The goal in eliminating disparities in health and efforts to ensure that all Canadians have equal access to opportunities between groups of people who are economically and socially disadvantaged and to enable them to lead healthy lives all as one (Braveman, 2014). Health equity can be achieved by having access to all Canadians at the best possible quality of health care. By reducing patient experiences and reducing health care costs, will improve the population’s health (Beal, 2011). Closing the gap between the rich and poor and improving the individual’s socioeconomic situation of their health and laying the framework in addressing the social determinants of health and sustaining efforts in improving and attaining Canada’s health. Achieving health equity by examining our society’s hierarchies to eliminate inequalities in the social and economic conditions to prevent unequal distribution of inequalities, inequity, justice, empowerment and freedom (Marmot, 2007). Most importantly, having initiatives in promoting strategies in lifestyle changes, and impact on social, economic conditions determining health to achieve greater health equity. This will reduce the unfair disparities, equality and fairness to all. Public policies Implementing effective approaches and interventions of policies in achieving and reducing health equity. Strategies to better understand policies and health outcomes in achieving a better relationship among the health of Canadians. In order to achieve health equity, the government must implement and take actions to have services for all Canadians regardless of income, race or social status (Östlin, Braveman, Dachs, Dahlgren, 2005). A better aim to client-centered approach and enabling Canadians to participate in decision making about their health and equal access for everyone and no one left behind. By monitoring policy interventions to better provide an evidence-based policies and confront the social determinants of health that is evolving and needs to be reinforced. Therefore by linking income, housing, justice, education, and social gradient together to address and implement policies in reducing health inequities to better implement and analyze solutions within the governmental policy-makers (WHO, 2013). Health equity in Canada In recent years, Canada has been receiving attention in regards to achieving health equity.
Most importantly from Canadian policy-makers and federal/provincial levels in reducing health equity in Canada. With budget cutbacks towards housing, education and social assistance will likely have a negative impact and implications on health equity (Ruckert, 2012). Health care services in Canada will remain the same and has the most funding but lack of funding to health equity will impact the social determinants of health and the importance for health equity. With both federal and provincial budget cutbacks will have direct consequences. The importance of socioeconomic factors in housing, education, income and social assistance for determining the health of the Canadian population as whole. With housing cuts down from $674 million to $37 million this year and reduction in education budget around $500 million over the next three years and lastly $200 million in welfare cut due to inflation. Despite increased funding in other areas, these figures are still inadequate and will undermine health equity. Knowing theses cuts and the status of poverty in Canada growing year by year will in fact be the main cause for health problems among Canadians. A need for a policy to ensure that budget cuts does not undermine health equity especially the vulnerable position that Canadians are in (Ruckert, …show more content…
2012). Health indicators Comparing to other countries, Canada’s health indicators has an overall B grade average. This puts Canada 10th out of 16 countries just behind Japan, Norway, and France but ahead of Austria, United Kingdom and last place United States (Silversides, 2009). Canada maintained its B ranking for life expectancy, which is considered a good indicator for overall health. The average Canadians are now expected to live as long as the Sweden and Norway (Silversides, 2009). Unfortunately the infant mortality rate in Canada is ranked a C grade due to its high incidence rate. Canada’s infant mortality rate is slightly higher than Japan, Sweden and Finland and lower in other many countries who under-register premature births and stillborn that sadly die after birth (Silversides, 2009). In Canada the health disparities among Canadians and aboriginal people are well-known indicators of poor health specifically in aboriginal people. The health determinants and socioeconomic for better infrastructure, housing, employment, income, environment and education which is lacking funding and governmental intrusion that’s spending millions to impose legislation on the first nations and aboriginal people rather than improving the quality of health of its aboriginal people (Adelson, 2005). With the lack of quality of life and health and disadvantages among aboriginal people, it will impact their social well being, resources, health services and increasing the health disparities. The effects of health inequities among aboriginal people in rural areas and remote locations are faced with disparities and social well being. The life expectancy for aboriginal people is far less than the non-aboriginal Canadian (Adelson, 2005). With inadequate housing and over-crowded dwellings and poor living conditions tend to bear the burden of illnesses. As well as having social exclusions indicators and discrimination, lack of employment, education resulting in poor living conditions that’s affecting poor health outcomes (Adelson, 2005). Infant mortality is one of the major key indicators among aboriginal people reported to be 8 deaths per 1000 births. And it has been shown that infants with lower birth weight have a higher mortality rate than non-aboriginal Canadians (Adelson, 2005). The Canadian government has implemented policy changes in the aboriginal communities in the past decade.
The health transfer policy that has given the aboriginal communities health services including medical and hospital insurance, drug and eye prescriptions and dental care which is approved by the federal government (Adelson, 2005). It has been argued that the federal and provincial government are the contributing factor in the aboriginal health outcomes in Canada. Even with the health transfer policy, there has been a financial constraint by the federal government to fund the on-reserve health services (Webster, 2009). Addressing policy changes for social, cultural, physical, economical, and political environments in which aboriginal people live in to ensure a more equitable health care system in Canada, whether you are aboriginal or non-aboriginal. The necessity to create programs for aboriginal Canadians in order to focus on illness prevention and health promotion is essential. Strategies implemented by the federal government on aboriginal policy and to show leadership dealing with environmental issues such as clean water drinking water, appropriate health care, and most importantly investing in programs to improve the health status of aboriginal Canadians and overall well being (“Parliament Of Canada,” n.d.). Research has shown that countries like France, Italy, Spain, Austria and Japan have the top performance indicators in healthcare of its population and are ranked
higher than Canada (WHO, 2015). With Canada placing 10th overall in health performance, countries like Japan, Switzerland, and Italy just to name a few are well ranked higher than Canada. Let’s take Japan for example; the cost of capita is higher in Canada than Japan and recently in Japan, the health care system implemented the pharmacists to be making house calls to relieve hospital stays for patients. In addition this program has much lower costs than a hospital stay. (Akaho, Coffin, Kusano, Locke, Okamoto, 1998). It’s important for Canadian policy-makers to review and provide useful policy learning from japan to better implement solutions in Canada. Another policy is Japans long-term care insurance that decreases and migrates patient away from long hospital stays. Long-term care in Canada is not covered so there is room for change and sustaining funding. Lastly Japan’s user fees which can improve equity and coverage’s to have all employees contributing to raise funding without affecting access to care (Luke, 2015). Conclusion Health equity in Canada is built on public policy and the quality of the social determinants of health. Enabling public policies to better reinforce healthy living, better income, education, food, housing security and universal health care for all aboriginals and non-aboriginals. The road to a health equity for aboriginal people aiming to design and implement programs and policies to improve health and health equity among all Canadians no matter the race, gender, religion and social status. Addressing health inequities is essential in containing an equitable collaboration among aboriginal people and the health and well being, References Adelson, N. (2005). The embodiment of inequity: Health disparities in aboriginal canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 96, S45-61. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/232010834?accountid=14694 Akaho, E., Coffin, G. D., Kusano, T., Locke, L., & Okamoto, T. (1998). A prosposed optimal health care system based on a comparative study conducted between canada and japan. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 89(5), 301-7. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/231999873?accountid=14694 Beal, A. C. (2011). High-quality health care: The essential route to eliminating disparities and achieving health equity. Health Affairs, 30(10), 1868-71. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/900995707?accountid=14694 Braveman, P. (2014). What is health equity: And how does a life-course approach take us further toward it? Maternal and Child Health Journal, 18(2), 366-72. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-013-1226-9 Marmot, M. (2007). Achieving health equity: From root causes to fair outcomes. The Lancet, 370(9593), 1153-63. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/199035765?accountid=14694 News.utoronto.ca,. 'Canada Could Learn From Japan, Korea And Taiwan As It Seeks To Reform Health Care | U Of T News'. N.p., 2015. Web. 17 June 2015. Retrieved from: http://news.utoronto.ca/canada-could-learn-japan-korea-and-taiwan-it-seeks-reform-health-care Östlin, P., Braveman, P., Dachs, J. N., Dahlgren, G., & al, e. (2005). Priorities for research to take forward the health equity policy agenda. World Health Organization.Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 83(12), 948-53. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/229546434?accountid=14694 Parl.gc.ca,. 'The Health Of Canadians: The Federal Role - Interim Report'. N.p., 2015. Web. 17 June 2015. Retrieved from http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/sen/committee/371/soci/rep/repintsep01part5-e.htm Ruckert, A., PhD. (2012). The federal and ontario budgets of 2012: What's in it for health equity? Canadian Journal of Public Health, 103(5), 373-5. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/1323767837?accountid=14694 Silversides, A. (2009). Canada earns "B" grade on health indicators. Canadian Medical Association.Journal, 181(10), E239-E240. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/204832366?accountid=14694 Webster, P. (2009). Local control over aboriginal health care improves outcome, study indicates. Canadian Medical Association.Journal, 181(11), E249-50. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/204841790?accountid=14694 WHO, (2015) | World Health Organization Assesses The World's Health Systems'. N.p., 2015. Web. Retrieved on 16 June 2015. http://www.who.int/whr/2000/media_centre/press_release/en/ WHO. (2013). Closing The Health Equity Gap, Policy options and opportunities for actions. Retrieved 16 June 2015, from http://www.afro.who.int/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=8410&Itemid=2593
...fficient training for health workers, communication barriers, a general mistrust in the health care system and culture shock has contributed to issues in delivering services to many Indigenous communities. The reason to why these issues have emerged is a result of two main factors, the lack of health services that are needed to address the issue and the silence of Indigenous communities which leads to misunderstanding between the government and Indigenous communities. Indigenous Australian’s experience this major disadvantage and neglect in the Australian society due to the poor healthcare system and policies that haven’t had a positive effect on the issue. For the issue of Indigenous health to be resolved, the Government and social policies need to address and meet the need of Indigenous people to overcome the poor health conditions that these communities suffer.
...nts of Health and the Prevention of Health Inequities. Retrieved 2014, from Australian Medical Association: https://ama.com.au/position-statement/social-determinants-health-and-prevention-health-inequities-2007
Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These focuses and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems. (WHO, 2016). In the video, various social determinants of health were being portrayed. They include aboriginal status; how aboriginal people are treated and how this treatment contributes to the economic status and health status of aboriginal people. Education, as aboriginal schools receive less funding from the government. Housing, as aboriginal people are forced to live in unsuitable reserves. Social exclusion and social safety net as aboriginal people are excluded from society. The social determinants of health are what contributes to the attributes of social justice. This problem also led to a larger and broader issue in society that includes the attributes of social justice. Social justice problems such as human and civil rights that includes sexism and racism. Equity in which the distribution of society’s wealth is not distributed fairly and results aboriginal people receive less of society’s wealth. Equity refers to fair shares. (CNA, 2010). It also leads to poverty as they experience lack of access to basic needs such as food, water, clothing and shelter. It also led to higher suicide rates and increase rate of aboriginal people in federal prisons. It also contributes to many health issues such as 42% of aboriginal children lack dental care, tuberculous rate four times higher and diabetics rate three times higher. Most of all it has led
In Canada, access to health care is ‘universal’ to its citizens under the Canadian Health Care Act and this system is considered to the one of the best in the world (Laurel & Richard, 2002). Access to health care is assumed on the strong social value of equality and is defined as the distribution of services to all those in need and for the common good and health of all residents (Fierlbeck, 2011). Equitable access to health care does not mean that all citizens are subjected to receive the same number of services but rather that wherever the service is provided it is based on need. Therefore, not all Canadians have equal access to health services. The Aboriginal peoples in Canada in particular are a population that is overlooked and underserved
In 1968 the Commonwealth Office of Aboriginal Affairs was established and acknowledged health as a major area for development and therefore started providing grants for health programs (NACCHO, History in health from 1967, online, 29/8/15). The office was later named the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in 1972, and it began making direct grants to the new aboriginal medical services opening around the nation (NACCHO, History in health from 1967, online, 29/8/15). In 1973 the Commonwealth Department of Health established an Aboriginal Health Branch in order to provide professional advice to the government (NACCHO, History in health from 1967, online, 29/8/15). Throughout the next several years indigenous health was on the radar of importance in the Government, in 1981 the Commonwealth Government initiated a $50 million five year Aboriginal Public Health Improvement plan (NACCHO, History in health from 1967, online, 29/8/15). Clearly more progress was achieved in the issue of health in the years after the referendum than those between colonisations and
Poverty is a serious issue in Canada needs to be addressed promptly. Poverty is not simply about the lack of money an individual has; it is much more than that. The World Bank Organization defines poverty by stating that, “Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time”. In Canada, 14.9 percent of Canada’s population has low income as Statistics Canada reports, which is roughly about two million of Canadians in poverty or on the verge of poverty. In addition, according to an UNICEF survey, 13.3 percent of Canadian children live in poverty. If the government had started to provide efficient support to help decrease the rates of poverty, this would not have been such a significant issue in Canada. Even though the issue of poverty has always been affecting countries regardless of the efforts being made to fight against it, the government of Canada still needs to take charge and try to bring the percentage of poverty down to ensure that Canada is a suitable place to live. Therefore, due to the lack of support and social assistance from the government, poverty has drastically increased in Canada.
With the increase in funding, Canadian poverty within Aboriginal society would greatly decrease. The Government should be “proactive in giving aboriginal people in remote communities the support they need to move to areas where they can find jobs and education” (End First). That way, adults would be able to increase their income in order to have a much more fulfilling lifestyle. It is not only adults who need the financial aid, but also the community and children. In order to help, the Canadian Government should make sure more money is being made available for the First Nation education, social interactions such as community centres, and way of living including: housing, roads and availability of healthy food items. “...The poverty rate of status First Nations children living on reserves was triple that of non-indigenous children” (Hildebrandt). Aboriginal children across Canada need the help of Canadian Government in order to lose this poverty and be able to move ahead. “Persistent disadvantages faced by Canada’s aboriginal peoples in regard to education, employment, health and housing are well-documented/the staggering poverty faced by indigenous children is preventable” (Hildebrandt). With enough Government funding, Native children would be able to get better education, social skills and understanding of their traditions and culture. Schools, community centres
However, Canada is working towards incremental equality when regarding this concept, which in turn, impacts reconciliation. The most universal outcomes of the physical environments of reserves are to do with substantial housing shortages and poor quality of existing homes. With the lack of affordable housing off reserves, there is overcrowding in First Nation communities, as well as homelessness for Aboriginals living in urban areas, (Reading & Wien, 2009, p.8). Homes that exist on reserves lack appropriate ventilation, which results in mold, which in turn can lead to severe asthma as well as allergies. Families on reserves do not have access to a fresh supermarket that carries nutritious foods because they live in a remote community. With this being said, health conditions may develop in Aboriginal peoples because of the lack of healthy, nutritious food. Canada is working towards equality within the physical environments as William F. Morneau (2016) describes, “Budget 2016 proposes to invest $8.4 billion over five years, beginning in 2016-17, to improve the socio-economic conditions of Indigenous peoples and their communities and bring about transformational change,” (“A Better Future for Indigenous Peoples,” 2016). All of these aspects play a key role in reaching reconciliation throughout
Health care inequities can be elucidated by the research that identifies the social, economic and political ideologies that reflect aspects of cultural safety (Crandon, 1986; O’Neil, 1989 as cited in Browne & Fiske, 2001). There are various factors that affect the mistreatment of aboriginal peoples as they access health care in local health care facilities such as hospitals and clinics. Aboriginal women face many barriers and are discriminated against as a result based on their visible minority status such as race, gender and class (Gerber, 1990; Dion Stout, 1996; Voyageur, 1996 as cited in Browne & Fiske, 2001). A study done on Aboriginal peoples in Northern B.C. showed high rates of unemployment, underemployment and dependency on social welfare monies (Browne & Fiske, 2001). This continued political economic marginalisation of aboriginal peoples widens the gap between the colonizers and the colonized. The existence of racial profiling of aboriginal peoples by “Indian status” often fuels more stigmatization of these people because other Canadians who do not see the benefits of compensations received with having this status often can be resentful in what they may perceive is another compensation to aboriginal peoples. The re...
Health care services are important to all, but what happens when our First Nations are allowed to those services but they themselves don’t always use it? In Canada, the health care system is supposed to be a ‘discrimination-free envornment’ (Tang, 2008) but that is not always the case. The right to an adequate health is all ours, but then for many nurses and physicians ethnic groups such as Aboriginal people are victims of racial gestures. Therefore, the health of the Aboriginal population is much worse than the non-Aboriginal people.
In conclusion the colonisation of Australia and the adoption of discriminatory policies eroded Aboriginal culture and tradition affecting their sense of well-being and thus deteriorated their health. Today these policies are reflected in the social determinants of health as socio-economic disadvantages. They continue to impact contemporary Aboriginal people. In order to improve Aboriginal health outcomes; the impacts of these policies need to be overturned. This can be done by assisting them with improving their socio-economic status in the light of their needs and traditions.
Canadian Government has created The Canada Health Act and developed it in all provinces and territories to provide better health care for its country residence. There are thirteen provinces and territories in Canada that works according to The Canada Health Act. Those health care services described by health Canada are as following: Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Health and Community Services, Prince Edward Island Department of Health and Wellness, Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, New Brunswick Department of Health, Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Manitoba Health, Saskatchewan Health, Alberta Health, British Columbia Ministry of Health ,Yukon Department of Health and Social Services, Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services, Nunavut Department of Health. Health Canada provided annual reports to keep Canadian resident updated for overall view of year (Health Canada, 2013). The Canada Health Act works based on its five main principles which include Public Administration, Comprehensiveness, Universality, Portability, Accessibility. Public administration requires that only public authority with non-profit basis have are allowed to carry out the admiration of provincial health insurance. Comprehensiveness conforms that very important needed health services such as hospital, physician and surgical dentists must be fully insured. Universality looks over all insured residents to provide them all with equal level of health care. Portability cover residents for health care when the...
Poverty also comes with many stigmas and negative outcomes attached, and there are many impacts poverty has on person or group; some of the most significant and detrimental being barriers to health, victimisation, mental health issues and unstable housing situations to name a few. In a study that took place in Hamilton, it is shown that the aboriginal population visits the emergency room ten times more (Carter, 2014) but have less access to hospitals and face more discrimination than non-aboriginal people do. Statistics released by stats Canada reveal that aboriginal people have significantly higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse compared to non-aboriginal peoples. 32.7% of all aboriginal people experience alcohol abuse compared to 22.5% of non-aboriginal people. (Stats Canada, 2012) Mental health is also another significant aspect in the impact of poverty. It is shown that there is a staggering difference in suicide rates between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal population and the different Aboriginal identifying groups. A set of statistics shows that 24 people per 100,000 who identify as all status aboriginals have commit suicide, compared to 12 people per 100,000 who identify as non-aboriginal. An even larger number shows that 135 in every 100,000 Inuit peoples have commit suicide, this number is over 5x as large as the other aboriginal identities and just over 11x more than non-aboriginal peoples. (Khan, 2008) Another impact that poverty has on this demographic is unsuitable housing, a house is considered unsuitable if it is severely damaged, crowded and even possibly detrimental to one’s health. Statistics pertaining to living on native reserves show that 27.2% of on-reserve aboriginal people live in overcrowded dwellings, whereas only 4% of non-aboriginal people live in such
The Social Determinants of Health encompasses how one relates our current health care system to an individual’s health needs. These are measured through looking at different factors within an individual’s life. By first excessing ones age, sex and constitutional factors, a broader picture can be created expanding upon individual lifestyle factors, social and community networks, and finally general socio-economic, cultural and environment conditions (Cukier, 2014). Just a short glance is needed to see how numerous outside influences can have powerful effects on the level of health status an individual can attain. Universally Canada is known for its free health care, with the assumption that everyone is entitled to such a privilege.
...on, race, and political belief, economic or social condition. Improving the poor health of disadvantaged individuals and reducing health gaps is important but not enough to level up health through socioeconomic groups. The objective of tackling health inequalities can be changed to local needs and priorities of a community allowing wide-ranging partnerships of support to be organised. However it needs to be made clear that what can be done to help improve the life chances and health prospects of individuals living in poverty may not come close to bringing their health prospects closer to the average of the rest of the population or prevent the gap living on throughout the generations. Being clear about what is trying to be overcome and achieved needs upmost importance in the development and delivery of policies that will promote health equality across the population.