Introduction Assignment 3: Online Debate is worth 15% of your final grade. Using the knowledge gained from the Position Paper assignment, students will articulate their stance on political issues of r

Keep Universal Health Care or Privatize the Health Care System

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Conestoga college

LIBS1420-Issue in Canadian politics

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Key words

1. Healthcare: Healthcare refers to the maintenance and improvement of a person's physical and mental health through medical services, including preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions.

2. Universal healthcare: Universal healthcare, also known as universal health coverage, is a system in which all citizens of a country or region have access to healthcare services without financial barriers or discrimination.

3. Privatization: Privatization is the transfer of ownership, control, or management of public services or assets, such as healthcare, from the government to private entities.

4. Efficiency: Efficiency refers to the ability to perform tasks or achieve goals in a timely, effective, and cost-effective manner.

5. Fairness: Fairness refers to the equitable distribution of resources or opportunities, without discrimination or bias.

6. Equality: Equality refers to the state of being equal, or having the same rights, opportunities, and treatment, regardless of differences in race, gender, class, or other factors.

7. Two-tiered system: A two-tiered system refers to a healthcare system in which there are two levels of service, with one level for those who can afford to pay and another for those who cannot.

8. Profit: Profit refers to the financial gain obtained through a business or investment activity, often as a result of revenue exceeding expenses.

9. Comprehensive care: Comprehensive care refers to a type of healthcare that provides a range of services, including preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative interventions, to address the physical, mental, and social needs of patients.

10. Administrative costs: Administrative costs refer to the expenses associated with managing and operating a healthcare system, such as salaries, rent, and equipment.

11. Long wait times: Long wait times refer to the amount of time patients have to wait before receiving medical services or treatment.

12. Shortages: Shortages refer to the insufficient supply of healthcare resources, such as medical personnel, equipment, or medications.

13. Investment: Investment refers to the allocation of resources, such as money or time, to a project or activity with the expectation of achieving a return or benefit.

14. Capacity: Capacity refers to the ability of a healthcare system to provide services to patients, including the number of healthcare professionals, facilities, and equipment available.

15. Healthcare professionals: Healthcare professionals are individuals who provide medical services, including doctors, nurses, therapists, and other trained personnel.

16. Access: Access refers to the ability of individuals to obtain healthcare services, including the availability, affordability, and convenience of those services.

Introduction

The topic of whether to keep the universal healthcare system or privatize the healthcare system has been debated in Canada for many years. The question of whether a public system can be more effective than a private system is a key issue in Canadian politics. Proponents of universal health care argue that access to quality health care is a basic human right, while advocates of privatization believe that the private sector can deliver better quality health care services more efficiently.

Historical and Relevant Events

The origins of Canada's universal health care system can be traced back to the 1940s when the Saskatchewan government introduced a system of hospitalization insurance. This system was later expanded to include universal physician services and became the model for the national health insurance program that was established in 1966 (Blanchet et al., 2019). Today, Canada's universal health care system is one of the most comprehensive in the world, covering all Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Despite its successes, Canada's universal health care system has faced many challenges over the years, including long wait times for medical procedures and shortages of doctors and nurses in some regions. These challenges have led some to argue that the system requires reform and that privatization may be the solution (Leclair et al., 2022).

View of Major Political Parties

Proponents of privatization argue that competition between private healthcare providers will lead to better quality healthcare services and more efficient delivery. They also argue that private health care can help to reduce wait times for medical procedures and increase access to specialized care (). Furthermore, they suggest that private sector involvement can help to reduce the burden on the public healthcare system by providing an alternative source of healthcare services (Fitch, Longo & Chan, 2021).

However, opponents of privatization argue that a two-tiered healthcare system, where access to quality healthcare is dependent on one's ability to pay, would be unfair and would lead to increased inequality. They also argue that privatization would undermine the principles of universality and equity that are the foundations of Canada's universal health care system. Furthermore, they suggest that privatization would lead to increased costs and decreased efficiency, as private healthcare providers would have to spend money on advertising and administration, which would increase the overall cost of healthcare (Leclair et al., 2022).

The Liberal Party of Canada has long been a supporter of universal health care and has promised to invest billions of dollars in the system to address issues such as wait times and shortages. The Conservative Party of Canada, on the other hand, has expressed support for greater private-sector involvement in health care and has criticized the current system for its inefficiencies and long wait times (Blanchet et al., 2019).

My Opinion

In my opinion, Canada's universal health care system should be kept at all costs. While it may have its challenges, it is a fundamental part of Canada's social safety net and provides all Canadians with equal access to quality healthcare services. The public system also ensures that healthcare professionals can provide care based on medical needs rather than the ability to pay, which is a fundamental principle of the system (Fitch, Longo & Chan, 2021). Privatizing health care would lead to a two-tiered system, where those who can afford to pay for health care services receive better quality care than those who cannot. This is unacceptable in a society that values fairness and equality (Leclair et al., 2022).

Furthermore, privatization may not necessarily lead to increased efficiency or better quality of health care services. Private healthcare providers are driven by profit and may cut corners or provide only the most profitable services, rather than providing comprehensive care. In addition, privatization would likely lead to increased administrative costs, as private providers would need to spend money on marketing and advertising to attract patients. This would ultimately lead to increased costs for patients and for the healthcare system as a whole (Fitch, Longo & Chan, 2021).

It is important to acknowledge that the universal health care system is not perfect, and some areas require improvement. For example, long wait times for medical procedures and shortages of doctors and nurses are serious issues that need to be addressed. However, these issues can be addressed without privatizing the system (Leclair et al., 2022). The government can invest more resources into the healthcare system to increase capacity and reduce wait times. It can also work to attract more healthcare professionals to areas where shortages exist and provide incentives to encourage more people to enter the field (Blanchet Garneau et al., 2019).

In conclusion, Canada's universal health care system is a fundamental part of our society and should be kept at all costs. Privatizing health care would lead to a two-tiered system that is unfair and undermines the principles of universality and equity. While the system may have its challenges, these can be addressed without privatization. The government must invest more resources into the system to improve capacity and reduce wait times, and work to attract more healthcare professionals to areas where shortages exist. This will ensure that all Canadians have access to quality healthcare services, regardless of their income or social status.

References

Blanchet Garneau, A., Browne, A. J., & Varcoe, C. (2019). Understanding competing discourses as a basis for promoting equity in primary health care. BMC Health Services Research, 19(1), 1-11.

Fitch, M. I., Longo, C. J., & Chan, R. J. (2021). Cancer patients’ perspectives on financial burden in a universal healthcare system: Analysis of qualitative data from participants from 20 provincial cancer centers in Canada. Patient Education and Counseling, 104(4), 903-910.

Leclair, L. L., Zawaly, K., Korall, A. M., Edwards, J., Katz, A., & Sibley, K. M. (2022). Exploring the delivery of community rehabilitation services for older people in an urban Canadian setting: Perspectives of service providers, managers and health system administrators. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(5), e2245-e2254.