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Canada Specific Healthcare Question 9


​What do you regard as the main flaws with healthcare provision in Canada?


Excellent Answer
There are issues that the Canadian healthcare system is facing. One key problem is accessibility; currently the waiting times for less urgent treatments such as hip replacements or cataract surgery can last from months to years, with Canada having one of the longest average waiting times amongst developed countries. Although one could argue that these procedures are not acute and thus more serious conditions should be prioritised, ultimately such long waiting times could affect patients’ quality of life, and potentially increase the severity of existing chronic conditions. This problem of accessibility is related to other flaws within the healthcare system. Due to this congestion in the provision of healthcare, there have been knock on effects such as a lack of beds – with care and nursing homes being full – or an inability of ambulances to release patients, due to patients not being sufficiently referred to the appropriate services. This ultimately leads to patients not accessing the level of care they need, with severe delays along the supply chain.