Private Clinic Oligarchy

Private Clinics, an Oligarchy of the Wealthy?

Since 1966, Canada has had a universal health care system. Canada’s public health care system has been debated for many reasons such as the unreasonable waiting times to access the health care system or the growing rate of out of pocket payments. Due to these inefficiencies of the system, there has been several private clinics opening in Canada to supposedly reduce the negative impacts of the public health care system. These clinics violate the law of offering services covered by the Canada Health Act, to shorten waiting times and create an “efficient” system as in comparison to the public health system. These private clinics, however, seem to be an oligarchy of the wealthy disregarding middle

Some of the biggest issues include extensive waiting times to access the health care system and the growing cost of out of pocket payments for medication or services. For instance, eyeglasses or prescription drugs are not typically covered by the government. The cost of receiving prescription glasses can be up 1000 dollars while prescription drugs vary from moderate to expensive prices. In Canada, only about 70% of the system is publicly funded while the 30% is private. Of that 30 %, half of it comes from out of payment pocket. According to statistics Canada, out of pocket expenses for health care services and products increases 2.9% annually. Due to cracks like this in the system, private clinics have been assembled in multiple regions in Ontario. Under federal law, private clinics are not permitted to offer services covered by the Canada Health Act. These services include hospital services that are required to preserve health, medically necessary physician services, and any other treatments required in preventing disease and determining diseases. Private clinics can operate so as long they do not violate the conditions outlined in the Canada Health Act. These conditions state that medically required physician and hospital care is to be provided on an equal basis without any extra charges or user fees. Medical care does not look at the patient’s ability to pay what is important is the individual’s well being. Although this is the law, private clinics all over Canada operate and provide the services covered by the Canada Health Act, presumably offering better access and quality that comes with a price tag. A few examples of private clinics running in Ontario are Regal Health Services and Cleveland Clinic Canada. Private clinics, however, make health seem like a privilege rather than a