The path to improving equitable access to healthcare in Canada

Abstract

If Canada were judged on its ability to provide accessible, equal and timely healthcare to all its citizens, it would receive a failing grade. Out of eleven countries studied in the 2017 Commonwealth Fund report, Canada was ranked second last for overall access to care, and last for timeliness of care [1]. Access is a multifactorial issue, but two key problems that arise are wait times, and equitability. It is widely acknowledged that Canadians need to wait a long time for many health interventions, but it can often erroneously be assumed that equal access and affordability are no longer issues in a universal healthcare system. Evidence demonstrates that this is wishful thinking. As we deal with the Covid 19 pandemic, these challenges protrude in an already failing system.