Canada and its provinces can do more to improve access to seniors’ care and equity in the healthcare system, according to a study conducted by the CD Howe Institute. .“We can see through an international comparison that top-performing countries such as Germany and the Netherlands rely on things like universal coverage, which includes primary care and treatments for chronic conditions and are achieving better and more equitable health outcomes,” said study co-authors Rosalie Wyonch and Tingting Zhang in a press release. .“Germany and the Netherlands also invest in home care, which encourages seniors to live independently for as long as possible.” .The CD Howe Institute found Canada ranks eighth out of 11 developed countries. .It said the top-performing countries were Germany, Australia and Switzerland and that Canada falls below the international average because of poor access to care and equity, but it meets it for care processes. While four provinces (Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta) score above the international average, improving equity and removing wait times and cost barriers held them back. .Some provinces, particularly Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec, scored below international competitors. .In Canada, most provinces exceed the international average in care processes, but fall below it on access to care and equity. .Wyonch and Zhang found 15% of seniors in Canada are not visiting a dentist and 8% do not have the home care they need because of costs. They called addressing access gaps in dentistry and home care “priorities for government.” .Among their policy recommendations, they suggested improving access, timeliness of care and reducing cost barriers to prescriptions, dentistry and home care services. .“With improved access and timeliness to medical appointments, accompanied by reduced cost barriers for pharmaceutical, dental and homecare, Canada would rank above the international average and place third in the ranking,” they said. .Toronto Metropolitan University National Institute of Aging Director Samir Sinha said in 2021 Canadians have lost faith in the long-term care system. .READ MORE: Eminent doctor says seniors care needs overhaul.Sinha said the COVID-19 pandemic made Canadians more averse to long-term care homes than ever before. .“Canadians have never aspired to end up in a long-term care home,” said Sinha. .The study used data from the Commonwealth Fund to better understand how Canada’s healthcare system is doing with seniors’ care and what areas can be improved.
