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Canada Specific Healthcare Question 4


​How does the Canadian health care system compare to that of Australia's system?


Excellent Answer
Both the Canadian and Australian healthcare systems are funded by taxpayer contributions in the form of Medicare, a scheme that covers the cost of healthcare for those above the age of 65. The extent to how much healthcare is aided by Medicare is similar in both countries, being 70% in Canada and 67% in Australia. However, the structure and components of each healthcare system differs to a degree. In Canada, in addition to Medicare, the Canada Health Act exists, which determines what health insurance programmes are covered by payments from the Canada Health Transfer. Such a policy is not present in Australia; Medicare is made up of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which subsidises the cost of medication for patients, and the Medicare Benefits System. Alternatively, in Canada, Medicare does not cover the cost of prescription drugs, with the private sector providing this as well as dentistry and optometry services. Therefore, whilst both countries utilise Medicare and to a similar extent, what this programme entails differs between them.