HEALTH CARE in CANADA
The concept of hospitals began in Indian and Egyptian cultures as early as the 6th century BCE. Early hospitals served as houses for the insane, and those who were considered incurable and/or contagious (e.g. patients with leprosy). This was done. for the most part, to protect society. Modern day hospitals evolved from the Greek temples of the gods. Hospitals continue to house the weak and the sick but now have a greater focus on finding a cure as well as providing care.
As we have discussed, health care delivery in Greece and Rome Before the Common Era often involved taking care of the sick and wounded by magical, mystical and religious ceremonies. Similarly, the expansion of hospitals in Canada was influenced by Christian doctrine and the World Wars (WWI, WWII). Christian beliefs of responsibility in caring for each other (fellow "man") led to the construction of hospitals owned and run by churches (e.g. SJHC) in the 18th and 19th Centuries with the purpose of caring for the sick and needy. Before this, individual families were faced with the burden of care for loved ones who fell ill. In the early to mid-20th Century, many public hospitals were built by governments (federal, provincial, municipal) to look after wounded soldiers returning from battle. Today, many hospitals in Canada are complex organizations that focus on treatment and cure of patients.
Health Care in Canada
The health care system in Canada is publicly financed and privately delivered through an interlocking set of ten provincial (e.g. OHIP) and three territorial health insurance plans. Known to Canadians as “Medicare,” the system provides access to all "medically necessary" hospital in-patient and out-patient physician and certain other health care provider services.
The credit of being the “Father of Medicare” is widely given solely to politician Tommy Douglas (FYI: actor Kiefer Sutherland's maternal grandfather). However, lawyer Emmett Hall, former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, and former Minister of National Health and Welfare Paul Martin Sr., also played very important roles in bringing universal health care to all Canadians.
Structure of Health Care
Health care in Canada is referred to as a national health system or program (versus a plan). The provinces and territories are linked to the same system through adherence to the Canada Health Act (CHA) and its principles. The Federal government sets and administers national standards for health concerns that may affect the entire population such as an epidemic or pandemic. It also assists in the financing of provincial or territorial health care services through fiscal transfer payments. The management and responsibility of health service delivery are provincial/territorial roles. Provinces and territories also plan, finance and evaluate the provision of health care by physicians and allied health services (e.g. prescription coverage through ODB) and as well as public health programs.
Health care funding in Canada is generated mostly through taxation (provincial, federal, personal and corporate). Ancillary funding methods (sales tax, payroll levies, and lottery proceeds) play a smaller role.
Principles of Medicare in the Canada Health Act
The Canada Health Act lists criteria that provinces and territories must meet in order to qualify for full federal transfer payment. The amount of money received from the federal government, relies heavily on how well each province or territory follows the "rules." The criteria are known as the 5 principles of Canada’s national health care system. They are: Public Administration, Comprehensiveness, Universality, Accessibility, and Portability.
CHECKPOINT Question TWO: What do each of the 5 principles of health care refer to? Is Canada's health care system 100% publicly funded? How do we compare to other countries according to this "Healthy Debate"?
The concept of hospitals began in Indian and Egyptian cultures as early as the 6th century BCE. Early hospitals served as houses for the insane, and those who were considered incurable and/or contagious (e.g. patients with leprosy). This was done. for the most part, to protect society. Modern day hospitals evolved from the Greek temples of the gods. Hospitals continue to house the weak and the sick but now have a greater focus on finding a cure as well as providing care.
As we have discussed, health care delivery in Greece and Rome Before the Common Era often involved taking care of the sick and wounded by magical, mystical and religious ceremonies. Similarly, the expansion of hospitals in Canada was influenced by Christian doctrine and the World Wars (WWI, WWII). Christian beliefs of responsibility in caring for each other (fellow "man") led to the construction of hospitals owned and run by churches (e.g. SJHC) in the 18th and 19th Centuries with the purpose of caring for the sick and needy. Before this, individual families were faced with the burden of care for loved ones who fell ill. In the early to mid-20th Century, many public hospitals were built by governments (federal, provincial, municipal) to look after wounded soldiers returning from battle. Today, many hospitals in Canada are complex organizations that focus on treatment and cure of patients.
Health Care in Canada
The health care system in Canada is publicly financed and privately delivered through an interlocking set of ten provincial (e.g. OHIP) and three territorial health insurance plans. Known to Canadians as “Medicare,” the system provides access to all "medically necessary" hospital in-patient and out-patient physician and certain other health care provider services.
The credit of being the “Father of Medicare” is widely given solely to politician Tommy Douglas (FYI: actor Kiefer Sutherland's maternal grandfather). However, lawyer Emmett Hall, former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, and former Minister of National Health and Welfare Paul Martin Sr., also played very important roles in bringing universal health care to all Canadians.
Structure of Health Care
Health care in Canada is referred to as a national health system or program (versus a plan). The provinces and territories are linked to the same system through adherence to the Canada Health Act (CHA) and its principles. The Federal government sets and administers national standards for health concerns that may affect the entire population such as an epidemic or pandemic. It also assists in the financing of provincial or territorial health care services through fiscal transfer payments. The management and responsibility of health service delivery are provincial/territorial roles. Provinces and territories also plan, finance and evaluate the provision of health care by physicians and allied health services (e.g. prescription coverage through ODB) and as well as public health programs.
Health care funding in Canada is generated mostly through taxation (provincial, federal, personal and corporate). Ancillary funding methods (sales tax, payroll levies, and lottery proceeds) play a smaller role.
Principles of Medicare in the Canada Health Act
The Canada Health Act lists criteria that provinces and territories must meet in order to qualify for full federal transfer payment. The amount of money received from the federal government, relies heavily on how well each province or territory follows the "rules." The criteria are known as the 5 principles of Canada’s national health care system. They are: Public Administration, Comprehensiveness, Universality, Accessibility, and Portability.
CHECKPOINT Question TWO: What do each of the 5 principles of health care refer to? Is Canada's health care system 100% publicly funded? How do we compare to other countries according to this "Healthy Debate"?