Canada - World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe
Canada - World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe
Canada - World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
20<br />
<strong>Health</strong> systems in transition <strong>Canada</strong><br />
services and, in 1966, the federal government introduced the Medical Care<br />
Act to cost-share single-payer insurance <strong>for</strong> physician costs with provincial<br />
governments. By 1971, all provinces had universal coverage <strong>for</strong> hospital and<br />
physician services. In 1984, the federal government replaced the two previous<br />
acts with the <strong>Canada</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Act, a law that set pan-Canadian standards <strong>for</strong><br />
hospital, diagnostic and medical care services.<br />
Most health system planning is conducted at the provincial and territorial<br />
levels, although in some jurisdictions RHAs engage in more detailed planning<br />
of services <strong>for</strong> their defined populations. Some provincial ministries of health<br />
and RHAs are aided in their planning by provincial quality councils and<br />
specialized HTA agencies. In recent years, there has been a trend towards<br />
greater centralization in terms of reducing or eliminating RHAs. Most health<br />
professionals self-regulate under frameworks provided under provincial and<br />
territorial law.<br />
The federal government’s activities range from funding and facilitating<br />
data gathering and research to regulating prescription drugs and public health<br />
while continuing to support the national dimensions of medicare through large<br />
funding transfers to the provinces and territories. The F/P/T governments<br />
collaborate through conferences, councils and working groups comprised of<br />
ministers and deputy ministers of health. In recent years, this collaboration has<br />
been supplemented by specialized intergovernmental bodies <strong>for</strong> data collection<br />
and dissemination, HTA, patient safety, ICT and the management of blood<br />
products. Nongovernmental organizations at both federal and provincial levels<br />
influence the policy direction and management of public health care in <strong>Canada</strong>.<br />
2.1 Overview of the health system<br />
The federal government has jurisdiction in specific aspects of health<br />
care, including prescription drug regulation and safety; the financing and<br />
administration of a range of health benefits and services <strong>for</strong> eligible First<br />
Nations people and Inuit; and public health insurance coverage <strong>for</strong> members<br />
of the Canadian armed <strong>for</strong>ces, veterans, inmates in federal penitentiaries<br />
and eligible refugee claimants. In addition, the federal government also has<br />
important responsibilities in the domains of public health, health research and<br />
health data collection (see section 2.3.2).