The
2013 Canada Health Council report is the tenth and possible the last
from this group. Funding was announced
as being curtailed in the latest cost saving efforts by the Harper government.
While their impact has not been notable, the work is solid and perhaps a few
more years might have led to demonstrable change.
One
key component of the 2003 accord, was an attempt to put greater accountability
of the provinces for the funding that they received. Comparative analysis of any health
jurisdiction seems a hornet’s nest, as while the best appreciate object to the
results.
A
shame that the indicators were more of service than of health: hip replacement
wait times, cataract wait times and coronary bypass. No measures of appropriateness are
included.
While
the report bemoans the national variation – more striking is actually the
comparability across the country.
Measures
of access to primary health care are limited to emergency visits to the practice. There is a good comparison of adoption of
electronic health records, but the best provinces are still only at 3/4 adoption.
Public
health progress monitored only by the prevalence of obesity across the decade.
A
worthy read, but perhaps also good rationale why cessation of funding should
run its natural course.
Access
the report and other Health Council of Canada materials at http://www.healthcouncilcanada.ca/
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