Medical Marijuana

Many people believe that the Canadian healthcare system is perfect since it is free. But is it really? Not all medical treatments are covered and there are also several lesser-known costs to Canadian healthcare. In this video, we delve into these hidden costs. We begin by clarifying that the healthcare system in Canada, known as Canadian Medicare, is publicly funded, and universally provided to all citizens and permanent residents. However, not all medical treatments are free, and some services like dental care and prescription drugs require the patient to pay. Furthermore, transportation costs, particularly for rural and Northern communities, can be exorbitant. In addition, the time lost in waiting for appointments can also create significant barriers for patients. We examine the results of a survey by the Montreal Economic Institute which highlights the disparity between the high levels of satisfaction and the perceived inadequacy of the healthcare system among Canadians. The video also showcases the experiences and opinions of real Canadians and suggests potential interventions that can help reduce the hidden costs of healthcare. This video was made by McMaster University students Muskaan Natt, Ali Mohammad, Asiya Ali, and Jasiya Janjua in collaboration with the Demystifying Medicine McMaster Program. Special thanks to Simran Kaler, Abdullah Khan, Manpreet Kaur, and Jora Natt for their input and perspectives surrounding the Canadian healthcare system. #canadianhealthcare #canada #freehealthcare #hiddencosts #transportcosts #ruralcanadians #timeloss #virtualappointments 0:00-2:40 What is the Canadian healthcare system? 2:41-3:52 Opinions of real Canadians 3:53-6:04 Statistics regarding the Canadian healthcare system 6:05-7:57 Government implementations This video is for general and educational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare provider for information about your health. Copyright McMaster University 2023. References: Canada, G. of C. I. S. (2019, November 19). Medical transportation benefits for First Nations and Inuit [Resource list]. https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1574177172364/1574177196509 Canada, V. A. (2019, February 12). Health-related travel expenses—Veterans Affairs Canada. https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/financial-support/medical-costs/health-related-travel-expenses CBC News. (2023). Skip the doctor, see a pharmacist: 13 conditions you can have treated at an Ontario pharmacy in 2023 | CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-pharmacies-prescriptions-1.6698703 First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). (n.d.). Medical Transportation Benefit. Retrieved February 4, 2023 from https://www.fnha.ca/benefits/medical-transportation Government of Canada. (2023). Infrastructure Canada – Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Overview. https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/rural-trans-rural/index-eng.html Ipsos. (2021, December 2). Canadians Largely Satisfied with Healthcare Syste, But Eager for Increased Access. https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/canadians-largely-satisfied-healthcare-system-eager-increased-access News, V. A. · C. (2019, March 20). Canadian health care’s ‘one issue per visit’ problem | CBC News. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/second-opinion-one-problem-visit-1.5061506 News, Y. C. · C. (2020, November 27). Ont. Woman shocked to receive $12K air ambulance bill after emergency in Nova Scotia | CBC News. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ground-and-air-ambulance-fees-health-care-universal-health-care-1.5817284 Seven in Ten Canadians (68%) Have Skipped Seeing a Doctor Due to Long Wait Times, Timeliness or Other Barriers. (2017, January 31). Ipsos. https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/seven-ten-canadians-skipped-seeing-doctor-due-long-wait-times The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company. (2023). What’s covered and what’s not by Canada’s Public Health Insurance Plan. https://www.coverme.com/blog/health/2022/government-health-insurance.html?province=ON&agecode=0 Tikkanen, R., Osborn, R., Mossialos, E., Djordjevic, A., & Wharton, G. A. (2020, June 5). International Health Care System Profiles Canada. Commonwealth Fund. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy-center/countries/canada#:~:text=All%20citizens%20and%20permanent%20residents,some%20coverage%20for%20targeted%20groups Wilson, C. R., Rourke, J., Oandasan, I. F., & Bosco, C. (2020). Progress made on access to rural health care in Canada. Canadian Family Physician, 66(1), 31–36. Winsa, P. (2022). Phone appointments with doctors can be life-changing. So why is Ontario devaluing them? | The Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/11/10/ontarios-deal-with-doctors-devalues-phone-appointments-critics-say-paying-as-little-as-15-per-call.html