Canadian Healthcare System

Question 1

Who currently funds the Canadian Health Care system?

Answer 1

The tax payers

Question 2

For whom does medicare provide healthcare?

Answer 2

Permanent residents, new immigrants, citizens of Canada and refugees.

Question 3

Early health care

Answer 3

There was no organization, delivery or financial support. It was left to individuals, families and communities. It was first provided by First Nations, priests and military. The church funded and built hospitals. The Grey Nuns were the first visiting nurse service.

Question 4

Why did epidemics spread in New France?

Answer 4

1. Closed quarters
2. Decrease or no sanitation
3. Decreased or no pest control
4. Germ theory was not well known
5. Poor health status

Question 5

What kinds of epidemics spread?

Answer 5

Cholera, typhus and small pox

Question 6

Quarentines

Answer 6

Physicians boarded vessels or refused port. It was an early form of government care. In early 1700’s, the first formal quarantine was established in England.

Question 7

First cholera outbreak in Canada in 1823

Answer 7

Occurred in Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Upper Canada. Legislation was passed to set up local health exams. 9000 people died causing a huge change in culture and demographics. There was lots of fear and confusion.

Question 8

Problems with quarantine

Answer 8

1. They became inactive after outbreak
2. Family and communities were still responsible for healthcare
3. Not much was known about germ theory
4. Many believed epidemics to be punishment by God

Question 9

How did confederation change healthcare?

Answer 9

The government gained ability to enact legislation and create government programs. Healthcare was split between the provincial and federal government but it was primarily provincial responsibility.

Question 10

What was the leading cause of death in the 1900’s?

Answer 10

Tuberculosis. The first TB sanitorium was established in 1918 in Fort Qu’appelle.

Question 11

When was the old age pension developed?

Answer 11

1927

Question 12

Healthcare in the Great Depression

Answer 12

Many hospitals had deficits because many people had debt and couldn’t pay their bills.

Question 13

Healthcare before World War II

Answer 13

Nursing in Red Cross and VON with the main focus on public health

Question 14

Healthcare after World War II

Answer 14

Penicillin was invented in 1946. There was an increase in medical technology, procedures, and research. Focus changed from public health to curative hospital based care.

Question 15

Tommy Douglas

Answer 15

Was the premier of Saskatchewan and was a strong advocate for healthcare. He is known as Father of Medicare and he was voted as Greatest Canadian.

Question 16

First universal program for healthcare in Saskatchewan in January 1947

Answer 16

Provides healthcare for all residents. Collects premiums and taxes. There was pressure for this type of system in all other provinces.

Question 17

Federal Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act in 1957

Answer 17

Federal government gave grants for provincial hospital services available. BC, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and Newfoundland joined. All other provinces joined in 1961.

Question 18

Who opposed Medicare?

Answer 18

Doctors and Physicians opposed. They fought hard not to have socialized medicine because of the fear of communism. They also worried about loss of potential income.

Question 19

Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Act in 1962

Answer 19

Covered surgeon and physician services.

Question 20

Federal Government Medical Care Insurance Bill in 1966

Answer 20

Federal grants were given to provinces who provided comprehensive, universal, publicly administered, non-profit and portable coverage of hospital and medical expenses. All provinces joined in 1972.

Question 21

Monique Begin

Answer 21

Federal Minister who advocated for the Canada Health Act. Many physicians opposed and went on strike. She was under intense pressure and faced many confrontations. She had the act approved.

Question 22

CHA combined with HIDSA and Medical Healthcare Act

Answer 22

Reaffirms principles of government insurance. Banned extra billing. Alberta, BC and Ontario did most of the billing. Physicians in Ontario went on strike but the strike ended unfavourably. Provinces who didn’t comply got not transfer payment.

Question 23

Restructuring: Ralph Kein in Alberta

Answer 23

Introduced Bill 11 to use public health care funds to subsidize for-profit clinics.

Question 24

Restructuring: Mike Haris in Ontario

Answer 24

Also subsidized for-profit healthcare and cut 25000 hospitals and long term staff.

Question 25

Restructuring: Gordon Campbell of BC Liberals

Answer 25

Bill 29 abruptly ended contacts with BC Health Employees. Over 8000 healthcare workers were laid off and had wages significantly reduced. Allowed for contracting of services deemed nonclinical. Services provided by nurses and health care professionals were exempt from legislation.

Question 26

What were the results of restructuring?

Answer 26

1. Many nurses were laid off and some hospitals were closed.
2. The middle level of nursing was removed.
3. There were many lawsuits and people went to court.
4. A two-tier healthcare system because of private clinics

Question 27

National Forum on Healthcare in 1977

Answer 27

Suggests support for more services, home care, and pharmaceutical coverage.

Question 28

Primary Healthcare and Alma Ata Declaration in 1978

Answer 28

Having a nurse in a physician’s office as the first point of contact could save costs and allows for all needs to be met in one place.

Question 29

GOBI

Answer 29

Looks at third world countries and teaches methods of family planning, increases education on breastfeeding, provides oral hydration and immunization and looks at literacy in women.

Question 30

Romanow Report in 2001

Answer 30

States medicare is sustainable and must be preserved. It is a moral enterprise and not a business venture.

Question 31

Kirby report in 2002

Answer 31

States medicare is not sustainable and advocated for a strong private sector.

Question 32

Social justice

Answer 32

Fair distribution of resources and responsibilities among members of a population with a focus on relative position of social groups. Focus on cause of disparities and eliminating them. Influenced by feminist and critical social theories. Work to prevent oppressive practice.