BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE IN CANADAHSB4UDecember 4th, 2013Ms. Blumenthal

LET’S TAKE UP YESTERDAY’S TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS… Read pg. 145-149, complete Q: 1-4

Read the “In Focus” section on pg. 148-149, complete the 3 questions of the Dove campaign

On p. 150, complete question 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=litXW91UauE

4 CORNERS ACTIVITY (OUR FAVE!)1. All Canadians get equal access to health

care in Canada.

2. People living in urban areas are generally healthier, and live longer, than those living in more rural areas.

3. I should have the right to preferential treatment by doctors if I pay for my healthcare out-of-pocket.

BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE IN CANADA Canada has a public health system that

mandates that all Canadians have EQUAL access to health care

Reality= some people may have better access than others

BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE There are several barriers to Health Care in

Canada:

1. Cost

2. Secondary Costs

3. Geographic Barriers

Cost

Over 25% of health care sevices are paid through private sources (out of pocket, or private health insurance)

This affects people with chronic health issues

Almost 60% of those with ongoing health concerns have below-average household incomes (harder to afford certain types of medications)

Secondary Costs

Transportation costs (to and from the hospital/ doctor’s office for appointments, across the border for treatment etc.)

Child Care (who takes care of your child while you are receiving treatment?)

Lost wages from time away from work

Many rehabilitation programs not covered by OHIP

Geographic Barriers

Canadians living in rural areas are more likely to have higher blood pressure, be obese, and have a higher rate of clinical depression, shorter life expectancy compared to those living in more urban areas (Think: Northern Ontario vs. Toronto)

Recruiting and retaining health professionals in rural areas is difficult, despite incentives to doctors

EQUITY IN HEALTHCARE- A CANADIAN PERSPECTIVE Socio-economic inequity in healthcare use

Some variation in health care systems across provinces

2003 Canadian Community Health Survey: showed inequity in number of GP, specialist, hospital and dental visits

MAIN SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO INEQUITY INCOME

EDUCATION

COMPLEMENTARY INSURANCE for prescription drugs, dental care

REGION OF RESIDENCE

Canada Health Act of 1984 states:

“insured persons must have reasonable and uniform access to insured health services, free of financial or other barriers. No one may be discriminated against on the basis of such factors as income, age, and health status.”

Is Canada upholding this legislation?

EQUITY IN HEALTHCARE- A U.S. PERSPECTIVE

“People in the United States do not enjoy the favourable health outcomes of other rich nations despite spending almost half of the world’s health care bill. Disparities in health within the nation are also greater than in other developed countries. Explanations for this fact relate to the greater health inequalities present in the US. The challenge is to get Americans to recognise that they die younger and lead less healthy lives than they should. The political will to create policies that would promote healthy lives will need to be sustained for generations if health disparities are to be overcome.”

(University of Washington)

EQUITY FROM A U.S. PERSPECTIVE The U.S. spends about twice as much per

person on healthcare compared to other 1st-world nations

Despite that spending, over 48 million Americans (1 in 7) lack health insurance coverage (that’s more than the total Canadian population!)

Who do you think lacks proper health insurance coverage?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bqP_h9gPi8

PRIVATE VS. PUBLIC HEALTHCARE

http://healthydebate.ca/2011/07/topic/cost-of-care/publicprivate

“SICKO”- MICHAEL MOORE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hHnSlZsVRI