Critical analysis
In every nation, healthcare systems are significant and play a significant role in the nation’s performance. In Canada, healthcare systems have advanced and evolved based on different approaches used to improve them. The efficiency of the systems has been designed by the various policies that have been implemented and analyzed. Raisa Deber indicates that the analysis of health policies is primarily based on various fields such as political science, economic, public health, and healthcare and ethics (2017). The reading portrays the essentiality of understanding the healthcare system’s fundamentals and significant concepts of health policy analysis. In her article, “Treating healthcare,” she portrays how different approaches can be used to achieve the set goals of improving health policy. For instance, efficiency, liberty, equity, and security are the central core values that help in implementing healthcare policies (Katherine, 2011). This would indicate that identifying the barriers to the core values will enable the policymakers to analyze and evaluate them while making decisions. Therefore, it is evident that the policy making process in the healthcare systems can be executed by different participants such as the public, political, and health systems. This would help improve the provision of healthcare and ensure that everybody accesses them. The policy should be there to protect and safeguard the well-being of individuals regarding healthcare services.
Katherine states that restructuring the Canadian primary healthcare system would do justice to the many people that it serves (2011). She further indicates that Canada should adopt some tier health system to improve its services. In this case, it would be vital if the system considers the people’s well-being and strives to take its services to the next level. The next level means that there will be equity, efficiency, security, and liberty among the people depending on the healthcare services. This would also be beneficial to the majority for various reasons, such as first: the restructuring will allow more people to receive healthcare services with ease. This will reduce their spending in search of expensive services as experienced before. For instance, restructuring can provide health insurance to many people, especially low-income earners who access healthcare services without limitations.
Despite the motive to improve the overall performance of the Canadian healthcare systems, various social determinants contribute to the non-implementation of the health policies. An article was written by Harvey, Hynes, and Pichiora indicates that income-related inequalities are the main factor leading to disparities in healthcare services. Individuals with low income do not have the privilege to access dental care services since their insurance covers do not cover their dental expenses (2016). The article, in line with the textbook, portrays how social factors such as income levels hinder healthcare services’ equity and fair provision.
Chronic diseases have become a significant challenge among people, and most of them do not have a reliable way to handle them. In most cases, these diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and obesity, are brought along by the massive changes in lifestyle. However, the healthcare system should have ways to help reduce the rates of chronic illnesses and educate people on ways of preventing them. Creating awareness of the diseases is the most effective approach as it helps to prevent them (Sargious, 2007). In this case, can the Canadian healthcare system become part of eradicating chronic illnesses and instill strategies of offering their services to the victims? For instance, they could offer free screening and examination, especially for the low-income population and others who cannot afford to pay for them. The process would gear the improvement of Canadian healthcare. Again, the same policy may be used to handle the mental challenges that people are going through. In chapter 8 of her book, Katherine talks about mental health that has been neglected and ignored for the most extended period (2011). In some cases, the policies present to address the issue lack the foundation and techniques to handle the situation. The Mental Health Commission of Canada indicates that there will be an advancement of the mental health strategies in Canada that will help improve the services provided.
The healthcare system in Canada has portrayed some differences and discrimination against sub-populations such as immigrants and refugees. For instance, the three-month wait among the refugees has brought along inequities in the healthcare systems (Hassen, Katakia, Cheff, & Sanchez, 2016). The issue of discrimination should be addressed and eliminated in the healthcare systems. This will bring equity and satisfaction among people. A similar policy should be implemented to help in infectious diseases such as COVID-19 in Canada. Public participation should ensure that the healthcare services provision is community-based and person-centered (Canada Gov, 2016). This will respond to the social, economic, and cultural differences articulated before. Again wouldn’t people be glad to know that they are part of the community healthcare system? Of course, they will be happy. Therefore, the healthcare system should focus on attending to people on their community level.
Personal experience
I got sick one day, and my tooth was very paining. I was at work o I had to rush to the nearby healthcare facility. Unfortunately, I was not attended to immediately as I did not have enough money with me. My insurance cover could not cater for the dental services, and I was asked to book an appointment when I was ready to cater for the dental services.
Reflection
The readings triggered some reactions based on the disparities that are present in the Canadian healthcare system. How would people be treated according to their income level, and yet it is their overall well-being? I thought that healthcare being on the frontline in caring for people, there should be no limitations, and people should access the services with ease. I now understand why I was turned down when I visited the healthcare facility with an emergency, and they could not attend to me immediately. Because I did not have enough money, and my insurance coverage did not cater for the dental services that were way too expensive. This is a concise indicator that there are disparities and inequities in the Canadian healthcare system. I can now relate my experience with the content.
References
Canada, G. o. (2016). Home and community healthcare.
Deber, Raisa. Treating Health Care: How the Canadian System Works and How It Could Work Better. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2017. Print.
Harvey, J., Hynes, G., & Pichora, E. (2016). Trends in Income-Related Health Inequalities in Canada. Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.), 18(4), 12.
Hassen, N., Katakia, D., Cheff, R., & Sanchez, J. (2016). The three-month wait builds
inequity into our health care system. The Wellesley Institute.
Katherine Fierlbeck. Health Care in Canada: A Citizen’s Guide to Policy and Politics. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2011. Web.
Sargious, P. (March 2007). Chronic Disease Prevention and Management.
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