Canada is one of six countries out of 28 industrialized ones with universal health care that does not use cost sharing for important medical services, which can be used to incentivize more efficient use of scarce health resources and reduce wait times, according to a study done by the Fraser Institute. .“Patients in Canada are not directly billed for any portion of their care,” said Fraser Institute health policy research director and study co-author Bacchus Barua in a Tuesday press release. .“The experience for most Canadians is that using health care is free, which is at odds with our international peers and can lead to higher demand for medical services than would otherwise be the case, which results in longer wait times that have long plagued Canada’s health care system.” .The study said despite being among the most expensive health care systems in the developed world, Canada under performs in key metrics, such as the availability of doctors and hospital beds and wait times. .According to the study, 22 out of 28 countries with universal health care examined require patients to enter into cost-sharing agreements, but there are exemptions for low-income and at-risk people. Cost sharing is done through deductibles, co-insurance payments, and co-payments in other countries. .The study found many countries with universal health care with shorter wait times for elective surgery than Canada establish a cost-sharing agreement between doctors and patients. Some of these countries are Australia, France, and Germany. .The Canada Health Act prohibits provinces from introducing any form of cost sharing to their health care model. .“Canada’s health-care system is in need of reform, and cost-sharing is potentially one piece of the puzzle that could lead to a better, more efficient use of our scarce health-care resources,” said Fraser Institute policy analyst and study co-author Mackenzie Moir. .“Of course, design matters — and such cost-sharing requirements need to be complemented by safety nets for vulnerable populations.” .A report from the Commonwealth Fund in 2021 comparing the health care systems of 11 developed countries put Canada in 10th place, ahead of the United States..Former London Health Sciences Centre president and CEO Paul Woods said finishing ahead of the U.S. should not make Canadians proud. .“Because Canada finishes ahead of the United States, people say ‘Ha, we’re better than the Americans,’ but we’re second last out of 11 countries,” said Woods. .“That is not acceptable, so taking this Commonwealth Fund report, removing the U.S. and recognizing that we’re dead last would be a great thing to do.”
