Current health care crisis -: A Canadian perspective

To comprehend the current loss of favor with Canada's most revered social program, it is useful to review its development and recent changes in funding and application. Canada's health care program has evolved over a span of more than 50 years. The current comprehensive national health insurance program began in the post-World War II era with a "land tax" program to subsidize hospital construction in rural Saskatchewan. This led to a general health grant program in 1948 primarily for hospital construction. A Canada-wide hospital insurance act followed in 1958, which provided coverage for hospital care and any diagnostic procedures conducted in a hospital. Several provinces in the early 1960s moved to a medical insurance plan for coverage of all physicians' fees. In 1965, special federal funds were segregated for the development of new and expansion of existing academic hearth centers with the goal of making Canada self-sufficient in terms of producing all health care professionals. By 1969 to 1970, all Canadian provinces had put in place a comprehensive, publicly: financed health care system. This system was based on 5 basic fundamentals, which included: Public administration of a provincial health insurance plan on a nonprofit basis with public accountability. Comprehensiveness with coverage of all medically necessary services provided by physicians and all in-hospital care. Universality. Every citizen in each province be entitled to health insurance coverage. Portability. Provision of medical insurance coverage when a resident moves or travels in any part of Canada. Accessibility. Reasonable access to any medically necessary hospital or physician services unimpeded by financial or other barriers. The system would allow every patient to see their physician of choice. Physicians are remunerated on a negotiated fee for service basis.