HEALTH CARE IN CANADA
Written By Veronica Chail, OMNI News
Canadians say the environment, wait times and shortage of doctors top health issues, survey shows.
10th annual edition of the Health Care in Canada Survey
The results of the 10th annual Health Care in Canada survey are in, and Canadians increasingly see the environment as an important health concern. Wait times and doctor shortages continue to be top health issues.
The survey was conducted by Pollara for Health Care in Canada partners including the Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Nurses Association, Rogers Media, and pharmaceutical company Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.
It asked more than 12,00 members of the Canadian public and close to 800 health care professionals about the state of the health care system in Canada and what needs to be done to fix existing problems. Respondents were interviewed by telephone between October 3rd and November 8th, 2007.
Most important health care issues
The poll indicates there's growing concern about the link between air and water pollution and personal health. Meanwhile, 20 per cent of respondents are most concerned about wait times and 19 percent are worried about doctor shortages.
In 1998, the survey found government cutbacks and lack of funding as the most important health care issues.
Chronic Illness
37 per cent of Canadians surveyed have been diagnosed with a chronic illness.
Of those who reported a chronic illness, over 87 per cent of them take at least one regularly prescribed medication. The survey shows, that on average, Canadians with a chronic illness are on 3.8 prescription medications.
“The survey reveals that chronic illness is a prevalent problem. And I think there’s a growing awareness that we have to start gearing the system towards more prevention and management of chronic disease,” says Erica Berman, senior research consultant for Pollara.
Views from the Canadian Public versus Health Care providers
The survey shows the public to be less optimistic about the health care system than those who work in it.
57 per cent of respondents say they're receiving quality health care services, versus 91-per cent of health-care managers.
And 64 per cent of the respondents want rewards for their healthy habits, because they say they’re less likely to use health care services.
“Some Canadians believe they should be rewarded with tax credits for their good healthy behaviour, such as, wearing their seatbelts, exercising regularly and not smoking. But physicians don’t believe this will work because how can we measure people’s behaviour. For example, how can we know if someone quit smoking five minutes ago or five years ago?
And what about runners or people who run marathons? They may require leg work, such as getting new knees and hips,” says Celia Milne, senior staff writer for The Medical Post.
Views on private insurance
The poll also reveals that Canadians have mixed feelings about purchasing private insurance for health services already covered under medicare. 63 per cent of the public respondents say it would result in shorter wait times and 59 per cent say it would also create a two-tier health care system. Yet, 57 per cent of doctors say that Canadians should be allowed to purchase private insurance for health services already covered under medicare, as a tool to improve access to health care for everyone. Health care providers say poor access and patient adherence cause major gaps in health care treatments.
However, 49 per cent of the Canadian public respondents say that access to family doctors has gotten worse in the last two years. While, 80 per cent of Canadian doctors say that access to new medicines has either remained the same (52 per cent) or gotten worse (28 per cent) in the last two years. And while, millions of Canadians don't have a family physician, 48 per cent of respondents believe that access to timely, quality health care will improve over the next five years. For further information on the Health Care in Canada survey, visit: www.pollara.ca and www.hcic-sssc.ca
