Strategies to Improve the Canadian Healthcare System

Book excerpt: Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2010 in the subject Health Science, grade: 89.0%, The University of Western Ontario, language: English, abstract: The Canada Health Act (CHA) of 1984 was enacted with the mandate "to protect, promote and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada and to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers" (L. Hughes- Marsh, personal communication, September 20, 2010). The Act has five principles: public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability and accessibility (Canadian Health Care, 2004). The CHA principles have assisted in creating the universal, glorious and free healthcare system that historically Canadians have been so proud to adopt as part of their identity. The 2010 Report Card however, suggests that this attitude is shifting. When compared with six other developed nations on the performance of their healthcare systems, Canada ranked sixth, only placing ahead of the United States, the one country that did not have universal healthcare coverage; factors measured include: quality of care, access, efficiency, equity and health outcomes. These findings suggest that Canadians no longer hold the same value for their once glorified, universal healthcare system. Instead, the system receives an abundance of criticism for its inability to provide quality care to all citizens and is thus currently facing many challenges and structural reforms. This report will outline three recommendations to improve the current Canadian healthcare system: going lean in healthcare, establishing universal prescription drug coverage programs and incorporating virtual health practices into the Canadian healthcare system.