Question

Compare (in your own words) the differences between Canada’s Health System and The United States.

What are some differences and similarities?

How do provinces deal with different system of health care?

Are all Provinces the same or some are familiar to the American medical system?

Your response should be one page, single spaced with double spaces in between each paragraph. Each question must be answered.

Answer 1

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND US HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

• For many critics of U.S health care, the Canadian system of universal health care has long been viewed as an alternative, superior model for the U.S to follow.
• Canada's single payer system is mostly publicly funded, while the U.S has a multi payer, heavily private system
• Canada provides universal access to health care for its citizens, while nearly one in five non-elderly americans is uninsured.
• Canada spent far less of its GDP on health care than did the U.S- whichwas the highest percentage of any nation in the world, according to WHO.
• 10.4% compared with 17.8% in the U.S.
• Canada scored better than the U.S on two commonly cited health outcome measures- infant mortality and life expectancy
• Compared to the U.S, the canadian system has lower costs, more services, universal access to health care without financial barriers and superior health status.

SIMILARITIES

• The 2 countries had similar healthcare systems before canada changed its system in the 1960s and 1970s
• In the WHOs ranking of health care performance among 191 member nations published in 2000, canada ranked 30th and the U.S 37th.

HOW DO PROVINCES DEAL WITH DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF HEALTH CARE?

• The organization of canada's health care system is largely determined by the canadian constitution, in which roles and responsibilities are divided between the federal, provincial and territorial governments.
• The provincial and territorial governments have most of the responsibility for delivering heath and other social services.
• The responsibilty for public health which includes sanitation, infectious diseases and related education is shared between the three orders og government.
• The role of provincial governement include :
• Administration of their health insurance plans
• Planning and funding of care in hospitals and other health facilities
• Services provided by doctors and other health professionals
• Planning and implementation of health promotion and public health initiatives.

ARE ALL THE PROVINCES SAME?

• For most part, home and continuing care services are not covered by the canada health act, however all the provinces and territories provide and pay for certain home and continuing care services.
• Regulation of these program varies, as does the range of services.