Saint Louis University

Baguio City

Canadian Health Care System

A Written Report

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in

PHE 102- Economics of Health and Health Policy

Submitted by:

Kaylynn Lee Ellazar

Coleen Beatrice Tan

Master in Public Health

Canadian Health System

 Canada

Canada is the 2nd largest country by total area, with its capital being Ottawa. As of 2018, the
total recorded population was at 37,067,011 people.

 Health care in Canada

Healthcare in Canada was delivered through thirteen provincial and territorial systems
of publicly funded health care, informally called Medicare. In each province, each doctor
handles the insurance claim against the provincial insurer. The Canada Health Act does
not cover prescription drugs, home care or long-term care or dental care. Costs are paid
through funding from income taxes.

 Financing System

The predominant financing system of Canada is mostly taxation. Funding can be through
the provincial level or the federal level. Taxation is provided by:

Personal income
Corporate income
Additional funds (like sales tax and lottery proceeds)
 Resource allocation

A. Decision making
Done by:
1. Federal government
 Has the greatest taxing power
 Its provision of funding allows it to enforce the Canada Health Act,
despite its lack of constitutional authority...
 Reductions in federal contributions will reduce its influence
 2. Provincial Ministries of Health
 The constitution assigns responsibility for health (and most other
expensive services) mainly to the provinces
 Provinces provide MOST of the funding for health services
 Therefore, they are the main decision-makers

3. Regional Health Boards (all provinces except Ontario); Local Health

Integration Networks [formerly District Health Councils] (Ontario)
 Regional Health Boards (all provinces except Ontario) are
responsible for planning and sometimes for allocating resources to
local health services
 District Health Councils (Ontario) were the old planning and
advisory bodies; their mandate was unclear and continually
changing. They were replaced by the Local Health Integration
Networks in 2006; not yet clear what has changed

4. Hospital boards
 Hospital boards collectively wield much influence, partly because
their members are often selected for their political connections
 Hospital administrators (presidents) have enormous and growing
power at the local level

5. Hospital administrators (presidents)

 Modest influence at the macro level (policy-making) through
advisory role, although perhaps less than in the past
 Doctors makes the key decisions in patient care, and thus have
immense influence on how well the system works, at micro level

B. Distribution of Funds
 • In 2017, total health expenditure in Canada is expected to reach $242 billion, or $
6,604 per person.
• It is anticipated that, overall, health spending will represent 11.5% of Canada’s gross
domestic product (GDP)

 Health Insurance

1. Provincial Health Insurance

This is handled by individual provinces and territories. All new residents must apply and
in turn will be issued a health card which provides coverage in that particular province
or territory. Waiting for granting of health coverage may take time from place to place,
but in accordance with the Canada Health Act, no more than 3 months should be the
waiting/ process time.
In certain provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario) health care premiums are
required for services; however, health service cannot be denied due to financial inability
to pay premiums.
2. Private Health Insurance
These include all service not included in the Provincial Health Insurance like:
Dental service
Optometrists
Prescription medication
They are usually part of employee benefits of the companies.
References
2004-2007 canadian-healthcare.org
Health Care Funding. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.canadian-
healthcare.org/page8.html
Health Spending | CIHI. (2017, November 06). Retrieved from
https://www.cihi.ca/en/health-spending
Tamanna (2011, May 25). Health care system in canada. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/Tamanna247/health-care-system-in-canada