Canada's Health Care System Getting Facelift

A recent call to overhaul Canada's health care system could soon see changes in the overall system. The Canadian Medical Association, Canada's largest group of doctors, have created a new framework that is aimed at improved quality of care with increased efficiency as well as being more focused around patients. They are also suggesting numerous system changes for electronic health care technology, as well as shorter wait times and better access to prescription drugs. The current Canada Health Act guidelines are from 1984 and doctors feel an update to the 21st century is badly needed.

CMA president Dr. Anne Doig says, "Our system of publicly funded health care is founded on the promise that all Canadians will receive needed medical care when and where they need it. Far too often, the promise falls short. The present system will not be able to meet future needs ... We need health care transformation and we need it now."

She also noted that Canadians should have equal access to prescription medication saying, "There is a patchwork of coverage available to Canadians in the various provinces and territories, ranging from fairly comprehensive coverage in the province of Quebec down to some of the other provinces, notably (in) Atlantic Canada, where there are quite serious deficiencies."

The doctors also feel that family members who provide medical care by supporting their loved ones after a surgery or illness should also have additional in-home support themselves. As well, they are attempting to encourage the government to provide professional incentives for caregivers.

Doig wants to make it clear that, "The concept is to reward quality of care and efficiency of care. This is not about giving personal cash incentives to pay practitioners. This is about using system incentives ... so it encourages the caregivers collectively and the institution collectively to do a better job for patients."

Shortening wait times is also a major concern for everyone across the country. Doig points out, "What we really need to do is look holistically at the system and say what are the impediments to access, regardless of whether we're talking about access to a primary-care physician ... engaging a specialist for consultation or sending the patient to have an advanced diagnostic or further down the road to that patient requiring definitive care. The whole point of this is to see this through the eyes of the patient. That's what we're talking about, is trying to make this through the eyes of the patient as seamless, as continuous and as comprehensive as we can."