Canadian healthcare performed poorly despite high levels of spending
Canada’s healthcare system has been ranked third to last in a study comparing 11 developed countries, managing to outperform only France and the US.
While the study, published by a New York-based research foundation called the Commonwealth Fund, is mainly focused on the poor state of healthcare in the US, it also touches on weaknesses in Canada’s system, according to globalnews.ca.
Based on an analysis of 72 metrics grouped into five categories (care process, access, administrative efficiency, equity, and health care outcomes), the authors found that Canada has a comparatively high infant mortality rate; wide prevalence of chronic conditions; long wait times to go into emergency and to see specialists; limited availability of after-hours care; and lack of reliable coverage for dental work, prescription drugs, and other treatments.
The study determined that 10% of Canada’s GDP went to healthcare in 2014. Many other countries included in the study managed to do better overall while spending less.
While the Canadian healthcare system was ranked poorly, it scored well on many metrics. The mortality rate for heart-attack patients who are hospitalized was among the lowest noted in the study; there were also relatively high survival rates observed for certain types of cancer. And compared to their counterparts in other countries, Canadian doctors were not likely to say they spent too much time doing administrative work.
The survey drew data from various sources, including its own international surveys of patients and doctors, the World Health Organization, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Canada’s current showing is actually better compared to how it did in the previous Commonwealth survey done in 2014, where it ranked second to last. But the authors noted that since results are generally separated by just a few percentage points, even small differences in scores can change a country’s ranking.
Other limitations were noted, such as the variable availability of health performance data across nations and the lack of direct information from medical records and administrative data. Since the report relies heavily on patient experience measures, it’s also possible that assessments of respondents from different countries were coloured by cultural expectations.
Related stories:
Provinces struggle to place seniors in proper care settings: CIHI
To avoid long waiting periods, Canadian patients head south
While the study, published by a New York-based research foundation called the Commonwealth Fund, is mainly focused on the poor state of healthcare in the US, it also touches on weaknesses in Canada’s system, according to globalnews.ca.
Based on an analysis of 72 metrics grouped into five categories (care process, access, administrative efficiency, equity, and health care outcomes), the authors found that Canada has a comparatively high infant mortality rate; wide prevalence of chronic conditions; long wait times to go into emergency and to see specialists; limited availability of after-hours care; and lack of reliable coverage for dental work, prescription drugs, and other treatments.
The study determined that 10% of Canada’s GDP went to healthcare in 2014. Many other countries included in the study managed to do better overall while spending less.
While the Canadian healthcare system was ranked poorly, it scored well on many metrics. The mortality rate for heart-attack patients who are hospitalized was among the lowest noted in the study; there were also relatively high survival rates observed for certain types of cancer. And compared to their counterparts in other countries, Canadian doctors were not likely to say they spent too much time doing administrative work.
The survey drew data from various sources, including its own international surveys of patients and doctors, the World Health Organization, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Canada’s current showing is actually better compared to how it did in the previous Commonwealth survey done in 2014, where it ranked second to last. But the authors noted that since results are generally separated by just a few percentage points, even small differences in scores can change a country’s ranking.
Other limitations were noted, such as the variable availability of health performance data across nations and the lack of direct information from medical records and administrative data. Since the report relies heavily on patient experience measures, it’s also possible that assessments of respondents from different countries were coloured by cultural expectations.
Related stories:
Provinces struggle to place seniors in proper care settings: CIHI
To avoid long waiting periods, Canadian patients head south
