Canadians continue to struggle with accessing timely healthcare due to long wait times and limited availability of care. A new report from the C.D. Howe Institute reveals Canada’s healthcare system ranks 9th out of 10 peer countries, a stark contrast to its once-lauded reputation.
The report, titled “Troubling Diagnosis: Comparing Canada’s Healthcare with International Peers” by Tingting Zhang, evaluates Canada’s healthcare performance using data from the Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy surveys. The findings highlight significant regional disparities and point to systemic challenges across the country.
Key Findings:
- Poor International Ranking: Canada lags behind in affordability, administrative efficiency, and equity, ranking last (10th out of 10 countries) in timeliness. However, those who can access care report relatively high-quality treatment.
- Strengths in Preventative and Safe Care: Canada scores above average in care-process measures, reflecting strengths in preventive and safe care across most provinces.
- Universal Challenges: Common issues include difficulty accessing timely care, limited after-hours availability, and extensive wait times.
- Provincial Disparities:
- Top Performers: Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Ontario lead the rankings.
- Weakest Outcomes: Newfoundland and Labrador and Nunavut fall significantly below the international average.
The report also tracks progress since 2018. Quebec showed remarkable improvement, jumping from 7th place among Canadian jurisdictions to 1st, while Alberta experienced a steep decline, dropping from 1st to 5th.
Solutions and Insights:
The performance gap between provinces underscores the need for interprovincial collaboration and knowledge sharing to strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide. Additionally, adopting best practices from top-performing countries such as the Netherlands and Germany could provide actionable strategies to improve patient outcomes.
The study emphasizes that advancing Canada’s healthcare system will require targeted efforts to:
- Improve patient attachment to care and after-hours care availability.
- Expand access to prescription drugs, dental services, and affordable mental health and home care.
“The road to a high-performing healthcare system is long,” writes Zhang. “Improving Canada’s healthcare presents a complex challenge, but by leveraging its strengths and learning from international and domestic examples, Canada has the potential to significantly enhance its healthcare system.”