Canada & China's Healthcare Systems: Similarities, Challenges, and Future Outlook

Canada's healthcare system is publicly funded and focused on a patient's needs rather than their ability to pay. Canada has a large working population compared to other western developed countries (OECD), which naturally results in more injuries and a greater demand for healthcare. Canada's publicly funded healthcare system is much more beneficial to both the economy and those being treated, as paying for healthcare is usually a significant setback for the average population. Eliminating this setback is much more beneficial for the economy, as people will generally have more capital saved to make purchases and contribute to the economy. The different levels of the Canadian government play different roles in managing and distributing healthcare. The provincial and territorial governments are responsible for administering healthcare and funding hospitals according to their needs, while the federal government provides funding to provinces based on their prosperity. For example, more prosperous provinces like Ontario would receive less funding (by population) than a province or territory like Nunavut, as Ontario receives more tax revenue. Universal healthcare provided by the government offers many benefits, such as the previously stated economic benefits, increased longevity, and peace of mind for the general population. Universal healthcare is criticized in Canada because it increases taxes. 'In 2020/21, an estimated 28.8 percent of tax revenues (income) will be spent on healthcare' (Fraser, 3). Universal healthcare also brings increased wait times, as more people are receiving services. The Canadian healthcare system is flawed; however, compared to many other countries, such as the United States, Canadians have it easy.

China's healthcare system has undergone significant changes since the beginning of the 21st century. It is referred to as 'China's Healthcare Security' and provides basic medical insurance, known as BMI, along with supplementary services such as charitable donations and medical mutual aid activities (Yi, Baokang). BMI serves two groups in the Chinese population: employees (EBMI) and residents (RBMI). China's Healthcare Security covers 1.35 billion people, making it the largest healthcare system in the world by population. 'Since 2018, medical aid has benefited 480 million low-income citizens, helping reduce their medical burden by approximately CNY ﾥ330 billion' (Yi, Baokang). China's healthcare system has one of the largest working populations in the world, accounting for 69% of the population in 2022 (OECD). However, this population has been declining since China's one-child policy, which started in 1960 and ended in 2016. This policy's implementation led to a decline in the working population and an increase in the elderly population, straining China's healthcare needs and decreasing financing sources, which in turn makes healthcare pricier in the form of taxes or may lead to a future reduction of healthcare services. China's healthcare system is still undergoing regular changes, so these problems may be considered in the near future if they haven't already.

Canada and China's healthcare systems both share many similarities, as they are both universal and publicly funded. Both countries also face the issue of a rising elderly population and a decreasing working population, with China being further ahead due to the one-child policy starting in 1970. Canada is in a position economically where it can't realistically increase its working population and decrease its elderly population without damaging the already fragile housing market. So Canada may take a similar course to China's current situation. Canada's housing crisis is caused by a lack of skilled workers, as those who were previously in the industry are now retiring (Robitaille). The production of materials needed for housing also slowed down due to the 2020 Pandemic, which played a huge role in the current crisis. Canada is attempting solutions such as building affordable housing and increasing the volume of immigrants coming into the country. However, some of these solutions have adverse effects on the economy, as inflation rises and the elderly population continues to climb. It is interesting to see how seemingly unrelated markets can affect the quality of Canadian healthcare. However, this is a very similar issue to what China and much of the developed west are currently experiencing.