Canadian Healthcare Research Paper

Introduction Canadian healthcare is thriving. Our healthcare system is ranked thirtieth of the one hundred and ninety healthcare systems in the world, according to the World Health Organization. (It is a stat do I need to cite this?) With this being said we need to look at the fact that Canada’s population is increasing in number and aging, therefore it is important for the Canadian healthcare system to be equitable and accessible to all Canadian citizens. This meaning that everyone has the same rights and ability to receive the services they need to be healthy, or to stay in good health. At this point in the twenty-first century, Canadian healthcare is not seen to be accessible and equitable to all Canadian citizens. There is work that needs to be done or at least looked at, and recognized so that our healthcare can thrive and be better in the future.

Counter Arguments Canadian healthcare could be seen as equitable and accessible for all Canadian citizens for the reason that there is an increasing amount of doctors graduating from Medical school, and also that Medicare covers basic medical needs. First off, Canadian healthcare could be seen as equitable and accessible to Canadian citizens as there are doctors out there to see patients; it is simply the patient’s responsibility to find a doctor, and accept care from them. There are also more and more doctors available, as the graduation rate of physicians is continually increasing. “In the past five years alone, the number of new doctors graduating has shot up 24 per cent” (Picard, November 15, 2012, p.2). With this being said there are clearly doctors out there for patients to seek medical attention from, it is just where the individual goes to seek medical attention. Therefore healthcare is accessible and equitable to everyone. Another reason Canadian healthcare is said to be accessible and equitable to all Canadian citizens is because of Medicare. Medicare is Canada’s health insurance plan that’s purpose to “ensure that all residents have reasonable access to medically necessary hospital and physician services, on a prepaid basis” (Health Canada, 19 December, 2010, p.1). Once procedures and specialists become involved in the treatment plan, there may be out of pocket expenses for the patient, but for the most part it is a prepaid healthcare system. Therefore no matter what your level of income is, everyone has the ability and right to seek the same basic medical attention. Canada’s primary healthcare has to follow the principles of the Canada Health Act.
One of the five principles of the Canada Health Act is that of accessibility to medically necessary services (physician and hospital care) at no extra charge to the patient. Under Canadian public governance responsibilities, the provinces are responsible for the delivery of health while the federal government helps to pay for it. The federal government typically supports from 20-25% of the total health budget in each province. Thus provincial revenues pay for the majority of health expenditures. (MacAdam, 2008, p.1)
Therefore healthcare must be accessible to all citizens, no matter what the individual’s circumstances are.

My Arguments There are many factors that prove that Canadian healthcare is not truly accessible and equitable to all citizens. Some of these factors include the shortage of doctors in the northern part of the country, low-income families not being able to afford some healthcare services, and finally new doctors not taking over retiring doctor’s practices. With this being said it is obvious that Canadian healthcare is not truly accessible and equitable to all citizens. In the Northern provinces and territories there is a doctor shortage, and therefore healthcare is not accessible or equitable to the citizens living in these areas. Even with in rising number of doctors graduating from medical school 18.2 percent of them are practicing in urban areas, while only 16.8 percent are

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