Comparative Analysis of U.S and Canada's Healthcare System

Comparative Analysis of U.S and Canada's Healthcare System

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to expand the boundaries of our knowledge by exploring some relevant facts and figures related to the comparison of U.S. and Canadian Healthcare system. The Canadian health system is structured based on a constitutional mandate by which the state must ensure 100% coverage of medical and hospital services, based on the principles of universality, accessibility, comprehensiveness, portability and public administration. This system was considered for decades as one of the "jewels" of the social program in Canada. Started in the 50's, the achievements of this system (called "Medicare") impress much higher than the fragmented U.S. health care system that has failed to meet the five principles mentioned, despite a much higher cost (U $ S 4,000 per capita annually in the U.S., versus U $ S 1,900 in Canada) (Sanmartin, 2006). In the next section, the author will examine different aspects of healthcare system in U.S. and Canada.

Discussion & Analysis

Canada's Healthcare System

Canada ranked seventh in a recent ranking of 192 countries compiled the World Health Organization, based on performance indicators, while the U.S. stood at number 27 - despite winning first place in spending per capita. Although 70% of health in Canada has public funding (federal and provincial), almost all of the services are provided by the private sector. Most hospitals belong to non-profit associations. Most physicians without an academic affiliation are engaged in private practice, in the form of "pay for performance". Physicians may choose to exercise their profession in the public system or only in private practice, retiring from the provincial systems / federal. In some provinces, however, allows the performance in both systems (Hislop, 2012).

The website of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) describes the health care system of Canada in this way: "It depends on primary care physicians (family physicians and general practitioners), representing 60% of physicians in activity. They are the points of initial contact with the health care system officer and control access to most specialists, provider's paramedics, hospital admissions, diagnostic tests and prescription drugs. Doctors are not employees of Status: exercise as individual professionals, enjoy a high degree of autonomy, receive fees for services and claim your payment directly to the provincial insurance plan" (Lasser, 2006).

For operational purposes, the same source (PAHO) said that the insurance card is issued to all residents, according to requirements in each province, there is no direct payment for services the hospital or the doctor, nor are there deductibles or copayments or dollar limits for coverage. In the primary health care professionals involved various paramedics, nurses are employed in hospitals, dentists work independently. Over 95% of Canadian hospitals are operated by nonprofit entities that directed trustee boards, charities or municipalities (Sanmartin, 2006). There are additional medical services are provided through private funding, according to provincial laws, private insurers cannot offer coverage that duplicates the official program, but may compete market for additional services.

Since the federal, provincial and territorial governments ...