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==Canadian Universal Healthcare (Medicare)==

==Canadian Universal Healthcare (Medicare)==

The Canadian program for socialised medicine, a national health insurance program which is commonly called "Medicare", is designed to ensure that all citizens have acess to non-paid hospital and physician service. Canada has a national program that is composed of 13 interlocking programs, representing the provincial and to a smaller extent territorial responsability for health care programs as enshrined in the constitution. Each province and territory as a result of this interlocking balance offers a common standard of basic care. Medicare is mandated by the Canada Health Act , and is commonly seen by Canadians as a necessary function of a pluralistic democracy<ref>“Canadians embrace medicare as a public good, a national symbol and a defining aspect of their citizenship.” See: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/hhr-rhs/strateg/romanow-eng.php </ref> ; embodying the values of equity and solidarity of the person against materialist measures of wealth and prosperity.<ref>http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/medi-assur/index-eng.php</ref>.

The Canadian program for socialised medicine, a national health insurance program which is commonly called "Medicare", is designed to ensure that all citizens have acess to non-paid hospital and physician service. Canada has a national program that is composed of 13 interlocking programs, representing the provincial and to a smaller extent territorial responsability for health care programs as enshrined in the constitution. Each province and territory as a result of this interlocking balance offers a common standard of basic care. Medicare is mandated by the Canada Health Act , and is commonly seen by Canadians as a necessary function of a pluralistic democracy;<ref>“Canadians embrace medicare as a public good, a national symbol and a defining aspect of their citizenship.” See: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/hhr-rhs/strateg/romanow-eng.php</ref> embodying the values of equity and solidarity of the person against materialist measures of wealth and prosperity.<ref>http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/medi-assur/index-eng.php</ref>

==History ==

==History ==

In 1984, the Federal Government, under the leadership of the Liberals and The Right Honourable [[Pierre Trudeau|Pierre Elliot Trudeau]], enacted the Canada Health Act. This act was based on the five principles of "universality, accessibility, portability, comprehensiveness, and public administration"<ref>[http://www.fin.gc.ca/FEDPROV/hise.html History of Canada Health and Social Transfer]</ref>. This public health care system is run in partnership by Health Canada and provincial Ministries of Health, who both contribute tax revenues. The federal government sets policy, while the provinces are responsible for actual administration. In 1995, the Canada Health and Social Transfer was created to replace existing systems for the transferal of tax funding to the provinces to administer social programs. The rationale behind the system is to allow all Canadians equal access to equal treatment, regardless of socio-economic status.  

In 1984, the Federal Government, under the leadership of the Liberals and The Right Honourable [[Pierre Trudeau|Pierre Elliot Trudeau]], enacted the Canada Health Act. This act was based on the five principles of "universality, accessibility, portability, comprehensiveness, and public administration".<ref>[http://www.fin.gc.ca/FEDPROV/hise.html History of Canada Health and Social Transfer]</ref> This public health care system is run in partnership by Health Canada and provincial Ministries of Health, who both contribute tax revenues. The federal government sets policy, while the provinces are responsible for actual administration. In 1995, the Canada Health and Social Transfer was created to replace existing systems for the transferal of tax funding to the provinces to administer social programs. The rationale behind the system is to allow all Canadians equal access to equal treatment, regardless of socio-economic status.  

In Canada health care is frequently listed as top issue in election campaigns and is both a topic of frequent debate and a point of pride for many Canadians, Tommy Douglas the founder of medicare was, for example, voted the "Greatest Canadian" on a CBC television programme in 2004 <ref>  

In Canada health care is frequently listed as top issue in election campaigns and is both a topic of frequent debate and a point of pride for many Canadians, Tommy Douglas the founder of medicare was, for example, voted the "Greatest Canadian" on a CBC television programme in 2004.<ref>

http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/</ref>.

http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/</ref>

The current state of Canada's public health care system is gathering increasing media attention due to rising wait times. [[David Gratzer]] wrote:

The current state of Canada's public health care system is gathering increasing media attention due to rising wait times. [[David Gratzer]] wrote:

<blockquote>... government researchers have provided the best data on the doctor shortage, noting, for example, that more than 1.5 million Ontarians (or 12 percent of that province’s population) can’t find family physicians. <ref>[http://city-journal.org/html/17_3_canadian_healthcare.html The Ugly Truth about Canadian Healthcare] </ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>... government researchers have provided the best data on the doctor shortage, noting, for example, that more than 1.5 million Ontarians (or 12 percent of that province’s population) can’t find family physicians.<ref>[http://city-journal.org/html/17_3_canadian_healthcare.html The Ugly Truth about Canadian Healthcare]</ref></blockquote>

Most of the blame for the current state of affairs has been placed on successive government mismanagement. This represents a failure of the federal government to properly regulate the level of service being offered in the provinces. People regularly have to wait between four and eight months for surgeries. The median wait time for an MRI across Canada is 10.3 weeks in 2006.<ref>http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/shared/readmore.asp?sNav=nr&id=753</ref> In fact, former Prime Minister [[Jean Chretien|Jean Chrétien]] campaigned on a promise to shut down private MRI clinics because it creates a two tier system, regardless of the demand for more facilities.

Most of the blame for the current state of affairs has been placed on successive government mismanagement. This represents a failure of the federal government to properly regulate the level of service being offered in the provinces. People regularly have to wait between four and eight months for surgeries. The median wait time for an MRI across Canada is 10.3 weeks in 2006.<ref>http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/shared/readmore.asp?sNav=nr&id=753</ref> In fact, former Prime Minister [[Jean Chretien|Jean Chrétien]] campaigned on a promise to shut down private MRI clinics because it creates a two tier system, regardless of the demand for more facilities.