POLITICAL ECONOMY OF COMMUNICATION
MASTERS LEVEL
CANADIAN HEALTHCARE AND WELFARE SYSTEM
Conceptual Framework
Canadian healthcare systems are often made by the central government, public health and the public policy analysts. Canada spends less per capital compared to United States on health care. This is because life expectancy is longer in Canada compared to U.S and its infant mortality rate is lower than that of U.S. the study also reveals that Canada has a considerably higher mortality rate for heart attack due to its conventional loom to opening coronary arteries. The cost of health care is rising rapidly than the rate of inflation in Canada and U.S with a possibility of even increasing in the near future (Klein 2008). Canada operates on 70% coverage to its single payer healthcare while its Health care Act stipulates that all insured people be fully insured with no co-payments or user fees for all medically necessary hospital and physician care. The healthcare plan does not cover outpatient prescription drugs, non-cosmetic dental care above 15years and circumcision. The health care cost is very low in Taiwan compared to U.S and Canada due to high rates of taxation on medical services.
Canadian Healthcare
Canadian health care system is a group of communalized health insurance plans that provide all the Canadians with coverage.It is funded by the public and administered on a provincial or regional basis with guide lines set by the central government. All the citizens qualify for health coverage without minding their medical background, standard of living and personal income.
The Canadian Health Act
It is a central government’s legislation that places requirements by which every province and regions in Canada to receive sponsorship for healthcare services. It operates under five main principles (Health care system Canada 2009): all the provincial health insurance is done on a non-profit terms under the government regulations; all important services must be comprehensively insured, all covered citizens are legible to universal health care, all citizens who migrate to different areas are still entitled to coverage from home province up to a limited waiting period and that all the covered residents have reasonable access to health care facilities (Mann 2009).
Keynesian Welfare State
There are different ways of availing services to the citizens (Marcuzzo 2005), some maybe sponsored by the government, others are produced unrestricted and given free of charge and some maybe obtained by the individuals with funds provided by the government. The welfare state is applied as an aid to the government performance in four wide areas which include: cash benefits; health care; education; and housing, food, and other social welfare (Barr 2004).
The welfare state stipulates four major objectives which include: to support living standards and reduce inequality, of which in the process should avoid upsurge of costs and prevent conduct to ethical risks and undesirable choices. These objectives can be attained by reducing administrative expenses and misuse of power by those in control.
Reference
Barr N. (2004), the economics of the Welfare state, 4thEd, Oxford: Oxford University press
Bill Mann, (2009) Americans who’ve Used Canada’s Health-care system Respond to Current
Big- Lie media Campaign, Huffpost Media.
Health care system Canada (2009), Canada’s health care Act 1984
Maria Cristina Marcuzzo (2005), Keynes and the Welfare State, London, Routledge
Naomi Klein (2008), “We can’t lose this moment” The shock doctrine Journal, U.S
University Group.
