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Canada health care system strengths and weaknesses
Principles of the Canadian healthcare system
Canada health care system strengths and weaknesses
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According to William Jenkins (1989) public policy is a set of interrelated decisions taken by a political actor or a group of actors concerning the selection of goals and the means of achieving them within a specified situation where those situations showed in public policy be within the power of those actors to achieve. In this case, public policy involves making policies that are involved in enhancing health care reforms in the Canadian situation. Policies are often as a result of a multiple decisions but multiple decisions taken by multiple decision makers through government organs.
There are certain essential components necessary to ensure the success of public policy. It is a purposive, goal-oriented behavior rather random or chance behavior. Public policies are not acts that just happen even though not all of their consequences or effects are anticipated. Public policies consist of courses of actions rather action separate discrete decisions or actions performed by government officials, in this case, individuals in the health care system. Policy involves not only the decisions to enact a law but also the subsequent acts regarding implementation, interpreting and enforcing the law (Hofrichter, 2004).
Davis Easton (2001) argued that public policy making has to do with the policy environment and he applied the systems theory to give an understanding of the policy process. Public policy is actually concerned with public problems. In the health sector problems facing the workers and individuals in the health sector are responsible for demonstrating what public health is .Public policy goes through certain stages of implementation .The problem formulation and agenda setting is the first stage in public policy implementations. H...
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...limited to its application to public policy. Health care system in Canada is funded publicly. The system is guided and advanced by laws and regulations advanced by the Canada health act. These models are applicable in the health care system presented in the Canadian setting. In conclusion, in Canada the state is responsible for rendering most health services.
References
Caulfield, Timothy A & Von T. (2002). Health care reform and health policies. Alberta.
University of Alberta Press.
Mullner, M. (2009). Encyclopedia of health services research. New York: Sage publications.
Navarro, V. (2002). The Political Economy of Social Inequalities. Amityville:
Baywood Publishing.
Drache, D., and T. Sullivan, (1999). Health Reform: Public Success, Private Failure.
New York: Routledge.
Hofrichter, R. (2004). Health and Social Justice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
An analysis of the US and Canada’s systems reveals advantages and drawbacks within each structure. While it is apparent that both countries could benefit from the adoption of portions of the others system, Canada’s healthcare system offers several benefits over the US system.
At the beginning of the 20th century healthcare was a necessity in Canada, but it was not easy to afford. When Medicare was introduced, Canadians were thrilled to know that their tax dollars were going to benefit them in the future. The introduction of Medicare made it easier for Canadians to afford healthcare. Medicare helped define Canada as an equal country, with equal rights, services and respect for every Canadian citizen. Medicare helped less wealthy Canadians afford proper healthcare. Canadian citizens who had suffered from illness because they could not afford healthcare, were able to get proper treatment. The hospitals of Canada were no longer compared by their patients’ wealth, but by their amount of service and commitment. Many doctors tried to stop the Medicare act, but the government and citizens outvoted them and the act was passed. The doctors were then forced to treat patients in order of illness and not by the amount of money they had. Medicare’s powerful impact on Canadian society was recognized globally and put into effect in other nations all around the world. Equality then became a definition which every Canadian citizen understood.
A Canadian Dermatologist who once worked in the United States breaks down the pros and cons of Canada’s health care system and explains why he thinks the Canadian system is superior to America’s. Canada runs a single payer health care system, which means that health care is controlled by the government rather than private insurance companies. One of the main pros of the Canadian health care system is that everyone is insured. He says that in the province of Ontario, the Ministry of Health insures all of its citizens, all important health needs such as physician visits, home nursing and physical therapy are covered. Since every resident is covered under the government plan the problem of patients being turned away due to lacking medical coverage
Many policies have shaped Canadian healthcare. In 1962, Saskatchewan enacted the Medical Care Insurance Act (MCIA). The MCIA provided coverage in the province for services provided by physicians. Physicians were allowed to bill the patient for any amount over what the government would pay. Other provinces began considered similar programs. In 1966, the federal government passed the Medical Care Act. Under this act physician services were covered under programs administered at the provincial level. The fees were split at a 50% rate between the federal and provincial governments. Another act, known as the Hospital Act allowed the provinces to develop their own health plans. Some provinces took a more inflexible approach to billing. After these acts were implemente...
Agenda setting is the process that determines appropriate solutions to a certain problem of a given field (Kingdon, 3). The process itself consists of three streams: problems, policies, and politics (Kingdon, 16). These separate streams interact when windows of opportunity are open – solutions are fitted with problems, and the impetus for this relationship is amenable political forces (Kingdon, 20). Prominent agendas are determined by the problem or political streams, while solutions are crafted in in the policy stream (Kingdon, 20). In the field of health care, the agenda setting is based upon the high number of uninsured citizens, the rising cost of medical care, the development of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in response to this issue, and the key players that debate whether governmental involvement is the correct approach in the issue of universal healthcare.
Longest Jr., B.B (2009) Health Policy making in the United States (5th Edition). Chicago, IL: HAP/AUPHA.
Canada’s health care system is one of the top in the world; due to the federal legislation for publicly funded health care insurance. Requiring provinces and territories to follow certain conditions and guidelines to maintain universal health care, which is known as the Canada Health Act passed in 1984. There are five main principles within the Canada Health Act; public administrations, comprehensiveness, universality, accessibility, and portability. Moreover there are three aspects within the principles, equity, access and undeserved. Several marginalized populations do not receive the adequate health care even though the Canada Health Act is in place to help “protect, promote and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of
Due to Canada having free health care, many people see it as a positive economic system. All citizens are treated equally, which leaves them to be undeniable through any type of health care treatment (Lindenberg, 2012). No matter what the medical problem is, a clinic/hospital will ensure that that patient will receive the proper medical attention needed. Citizens receive a more enhanced treatment by doctors for a smaller price. For example, if a patient comes into a health clinic with something as little as a broken bone or stitches they will receive excellent care for an affordable price or even better, no price at all (Public Healthcare Service, 2014). Individuals have the luxury of accessing any hospital or medical clinic with no hassles. This means they have a variety of choices as to where they can go for medical services without being denied treatment. They also receive great benefits on prescription drugs and other medical products. If they’re not free, they’re much cheaper than other countries such as the United States (Public Healthcare Service, 2014). ...
Today, Canadians are concerned with many issues involving health care. It is the responsibility of the provincial party to come up with a fair, yet reasonable solution to this issue. This solution must support Canadians for the best; it involves people and how they are treated when in need for health care. The Liberal party feels that they have the best solution that will provide Canadians with the best results. It states that people will have the protection of medicare and will help with concerns like: injury prevention, nutrition, physical activity, mental health, etc. The Canadian Alliance Party’s plan is to make several policy-developments to benefit Canada’s health care. They believe it will serve the security and well-being best for all Canadians. The last party involved in this issue is the NDP Party; who indicate that they are fighting hard for a better Health Care system in our economy. The NDP Party states that the income of a family should not dictate the quality of health care.
The introductory of Canada’s health care system in the mid-20th century, known as Medicare, led the country into the proud tradition of a public health care system, opposite to America’s privatized health care system in the south. Though Canada’s health care system still holds some aspects of a privatized system, it is still readily available for all citizens throughout the nation. After continuous research, it is clear to state that public health care and the association it has with welfare state liberalism is by far a more favourable option for Canada, than that of private health care and the association it has with neo-conservatism. To help understand why public health care is a better and more favourable option for Canada, it is fundamental
Since the initiation of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, Americans have been put back in charge of their individual health care. Under this new law, a health insurance marketplace provides a haven for individuals without insurance to gain coverage. Just this year, citizens found out early whether they qualified for Medicare or the CHIP formally known as the Children’s Health Insurance Program. So much is to be learned about the Affordable Care act and this paper provides the roles of the different governmental branches, along with other important factors associated with this law.
Barton, P.L. (2010). Understanding the U.S. health services system. (4th ed). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.
A country’s health care system refers to all the institutions, programs, personnel, procedures, and the resources that are used to meet the health needs of its population. Health care systems vary from one country to another, depending on government policies and the health needs of the population. Besides, health care programs are flexible in the sense that they are tailored to meet health needs as they arise. Among the stakeholders in the formulation of a country’s health care system are governments, religious groups, non-governmental organizations, charity organizations, trade/labor unions, and interested individuals (Duckett, 2008). These entities formulate, implement, evaluate, and reform health services according to the needs of the sections of the population they target.
Health care policy targets the organization, financing, and delivery of health care services. The reason for targeting these areas is for the licensing of health care professionals and facilities, to make sure there is protection of patients’ private health information, and there are measures of quality care, mistakes, malpractice, and efforts to control of health care cost (Acuff, 2010). There are several stages that one must take when creating a policy (see figure 1). The figure below shows the critical steps in the policy process. First, the problem must be identified, once the problem is identified potential policy solutions must be formulated, then the policy is adopted, and then implemented. After the policy is in place, an evaluation of the policy has to take place (This Nation, 2013).
Policy formulation is “the development of pertinent and acceptable, proposed courses of action for dealing with a public problem” (Anderson, 2011, 4). Policy formulation differs from agenda setting because policy formulation focuses more on the development of finding an effective action plan for what has been addressed in the agenda-setting. As stated,