Health Canada
Health Canada is the federal agency responsible for overseeing and managing the country’s healthcare system, which operates on the principle of universal coverage for medically necessary services. This system, known as "Medicare," is distinct from private insurance models and is funded by taxpayer dollars. The agency is guided by the Canada Health Act of 1984, which sets the standards for provincial and territorial healthcare plans to ensure they meet specific criteria for federal funding. Health Canada encompasses several independent agencies, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, which focuses on public health emergencies and chronic disease prevention, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, which funds health research throughout the country.
Additionally, Health Canada regulates health products and food safety, overseeing the use of pesticides and ensuring that patented medication prices are fair for consumers. The organization also addresses public health issues affecting Indigenous populations through dedicated branches. As Canada faces challenges such as an aging population and rising healthcare costs, Health Canada aims to promote health and prevent disease to improve quality of life for its citizens while managing fiscal sustainability. Through collaboration with international partners, Health Canada emphasizes the importance of cooperative efforts to enhance health outcomes both domestically and globally.
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Health Canada
Also known as: Santé Canada
Definition: A department of the federal government of Canada with responsibility for the health care and public health concerns of all Canadians
Introduction
Canada’s healthcare system is constantly evolving as medicine, research, and society transform. The basic premise of the system is to have universal coverage for medically necessary healthcare services on the basis of need, rather than the ability to pay. Canadians refer to the publicly funded healthcare system as “Medicare” (not to be confused with the US government health insuranceprogram for the elderly), which is made up of distinct health insurance plans from each of the ten provinces and three territories. Health Canada sets and administers national principles for the healthcare system as outlined in the Canada Health Act (1984), as well as working with individual provinces and territories to support the healthcare system in areas such as human resources planning, adoption of new technologies, public health, and primary caredelivery. The Canada Health Act outlines specific criteria and conditions that must be satisfied by the provincial and territorial healthcare insurance plans for them to qualify for their full allocation of federal funds. Provincial and territorial governments are responsible for managing, organizing, and delivering health services for their residents.
Organization
Health Canada is an umbrella agency led by the federal Minister of Health, assisted by a deputy and an associate deputy minister, and is further divided into four agencies and twelve branches. These agencies are independent but accountable to Parliament through the minister. The Minister of Health holds a senior cabinet position appointed by the prime minister and is responsible for an average annual budget of more than $4.5 billion.
The Public Health Agency of Canada, one of the four agencies of Health Canada, was created in 2004, and is overseen by the chief public health officer. The Public Health Agency aims to respond to public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks and prevent injuries and chronic diseases. The second agency is the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), which is the foremost federal funding agency for health research in Canada. Its purpose is to support scientific research, leading to improved health, effective health services and products, and a stronger Canadian healthcare system.
The Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission (HMIRC) is the third Health Canada agency. It is charged with providing the trade secret protection mechanism within the National Office of the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. The commission works with the National Office of the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System to balance workplace safety with the right of industry to protect trade secrets in regard to hazardous chemicals. The fourth agency is the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB), which ensures that the manufacturers’ prices of patented medications are not excessively high, thereby protecting consumers and health care.
Many of the twelve branches of Health Canada are dedicated to the administration of the department and the healthcare system. Among the branches are those for audit and accountability, the chief financial officer, corporate services, public affairs and communications, and legal services. The First Nations and Inuit Health Branch supports the delivery of public health and health promotion services to remote and isolated areas, on reserves, or in Inuit communities. First Nations and Inuit people are all provided drug, dental, and ancillary health services, regardless of residence. The Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB) manages the risks and benefits of health products and food by providing a regulatory system as well as promoting healthy choices and providing information so that Canadians can make informed decisions about their health.
The Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch (HECSB) aims to maintain and improve the health of Canadians by promoting healthy and safe living. The scope of its work covers issues such as drinking water, air quality, alcohol and drug use, toy safety, smoke detectors, the safety of cosmetics and personal care products, and secondhand smoke, as well as new biotechnology and chemical products. In 1995, the Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) was created to regulate pesticide use and its potential impact on humans and the environment in Canada and to promote sustainable pest management. It registers and evaluates all pesticides following a strict scientific assessment, then reevaluates products on the market on a fifteen-year cycle.
A common misconception is that Canadians enjoy “free” healthcare. This is inaccurate in that Canadian taxpayers assume these medical costs. Canada, like the United States, is experiencing the aging of its “baby-boomer” generation. As such, an increasing Canadian population will experience the need for specialized healthcare as a higher percentage of its citizens grow older. As approximately 70 percent of the healthcare costs of Canadian citizens are borne by the government, this will become an increasingly large and national fiscal burden in the decades to come. The remaining 30 percent of out-of-pocket costs borne by individuals is also projected to increase in cost.
The health of citizens can extend beyond geographic borders, which is why Health Canada works with other nations to maintain bilateral agreements between Canada and other countries to guide cooperative activities relating to health. Health Canada’s vision is that by preventing disease and promoting good health, healthcare costs can be kept down and quality of life can be improved for Canadians.
Bibliography
Health Canada. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php.
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"US vs. Canadian Healthcare: What is The Difference?" Ross University School of Medicine, 11 May 2021, medical.rossu.edu/about/blog/us-vs-canadian-healthcare. Accessed 15 Aug. 2023.