Canada has a long and proud tradition of providing access to healthcare for all residents. But even as the national health system has evolved, there have always been gaps in coverage that leave Canadians with some serious financial challenges.
This is why it may come as a surprise to learn that Canada is currently embroiled in a debate about whether or not we should implement what's known as "compulsory national health insurance". Not only do proponents argue that this would make healthcare more affordable, they feel it would also help level the playing field between Canadians who are able to work full-time and those who are not.
Arguments for the proposed system include a 2010 OECD report that suggests the number of uninsured Canadians would drop by 30 percent if C-NHI was implemented, and a 2012 report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information that found that about one in four Canadians has been unable to afford medical care in the last two years. When you consider it's not uncommon for someone to live off $10,000 or less each year, it's easy to see how these numbers might strike a chord with people who feel they lack adequate access to healthcare.
The fact is, most Canadians would agree that healthcare should be available and accessible for all residents as soon as possible. But on its face, the idea of implementing a form of national healthcare seems a bit odd. After all, we currently have an excellent system that 10 years ago was ranked the 6th best healthcare system in the world by the World Health Organization (WHO), and is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive healthcare systems in the world. We also have a widely-respected health minister in Paul Martin who has led Canada's bid for a seat on the WHO council, and who has openly supported universal coverage for some time now. So why are people now calling for C-NHI?
Maybe it's simply because many countries have adopted some form of national health insurance for their citizens, so it seems like a natural progression.
This is why it may come as a surprise to learn that Canada is currently embroiled in a debate about whether or not we should implement what's known as "compulsory national health insurance". Not only do proponents argue that this would make healthcare more affordable, they feel it would also help level the playing field between Canadians who are able to work full-time and those who are not.
Arguments for the proposed system include a 2010 OECD report that suggests the number of uninsured Canadians would drop by 30 percent if C-NHI was implemented, and a 2012 report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information that found that about one in four Canadians has been unable to afford medical care in the last two years. When you consider it's not uncommon for someone to live off $10,000 or less each year, it's easy to see how these numbers might strike a chord with people who feel they lack adequate access to healthcare.
The fact is, most Canadians would agree that healthcare should be available and accessible for all residents as soon as possible. But on its face, the idea of implementing a form of national healthcare seems a bit odd. After all, we currently have an excellent system that 10 years ago was ranked the 6th best healthcare system in the world by the World Health Organization (WHO), and is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive healthcare systems in the world. We also have a widely-respected health minister in Paul Martin who has led Canada's bid for a seat on the WHO council, and who has openly supported universal coverage for some time now. So why are people now calling for C-NHI?
Maybe it's simply because many countries have adopted some form of national health insurance for their citizens, so it seems like a natural progression.
