Canadian Public Funded Health Care: A Disaster

In Canada, more than 30% of the healthcare system is privatized, with provincial and federal governments gradually allowing American healthcare companies to enter the market. However, despite having a universal healthcare system, Canada faces significant challenges. According to a study comparing 30 countries with universal healthcare, Canada ranked poorly in several key areas. It ranked 28th for the number of doctors, 23rd for somatic care beds, and 23rd for psychiatric beds. Additionally, in 2019, Canada ranked 25th for the number of MRI machines and 26th for CT scanners per million people.

One of the most pressing issues is the extensive wait times for specialist treatments, with Canadian patients enduring median waits of over six months, the longest ever recorded. Canadian patients endure lengthy wait times for necessary treatments, with a median wait of 27.7 weeks to see a specialist after a referral from a general practitioner. Moreover, many Canadians need help finding a general practitioner doctor; despite significant taxpayer funding, the average Canadian family pays around $17,000 annually to support the healthcare system.

The situation is particularly dire in provinces like Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, where patients face waits exceeding a year for specialist treatment. The backlog extends to various surgeries, with patients enduring lengthy waits for plastic, orthopedic, and neurosurgery procedures. These delays impact patients' health and have significant economic costs, totalling billions annually and affecting millions of Canadians.

Despite the high tax burden to fund the healthcare system, many Canadians still face substantial out-of-pocket expenses.