Appraisal of Reform Proposals for Primary Health Care in Canada - Term Paper Example

Appraisal of Reform Proposals for Primary Health Care in Canada Introduction Renewal of primary health care in Canada requires changes that are fundamental to the deliver and organization of health care service system. The reform process of primary health care in Canada is not a new venture. This is basically an undertaking that is long term and requires critical analysis and knowledge. Although past reform strategies have yielded results that are impressive, it is however evident there is still need for continued reforms in the primary health care sector, this is because there has been a great deal of innovation yet a small amount of change has been witnessed( Krasnik 1990). Reform proposals for primary health care in Canada Description of the reform policy for primary health care in Canada The search for an efficient health care system in Canada requires a policy framework that can bring significant changes to the areas in the health care system that have not effectively been dealt with in despite of the many innovation of reform ,that have been made over the years. Primary health care needs a policy that can fundamentally renew aspects such as service delivery and organization of the system. The policy should have a model that allocates room for implementation of the proposed elements, by all stake holders. Reform Proposals Funding of primary Health care There is need for policy makers to reconsider the aspect of cumulative increment and diversity in terms of funding primary health care. Significant transformation of the primary health care system can not basically occur if the government does not lay emphasis on investing on the infrastructure in primary health care. There has been reliance on payments by the FFS in order to fund primary care, the outcome of this is that a striking shortage of infrastructure has been witnessed in the areas of communication, staffing, information technology, care coordination and staffing. Investment in the infrastructure of primary care should possibly be allocated more funding in order to support all stake holders and mostly physicians who work directly with patients (Naylor 1986). The Health insurance system in Canada has over the years been the very popular in terms of financing health care services. However strains have been witnessed in the commitment of providing funds for primary health care. This is due to the fact that inequality has been witnessed in terms of insurance coverage mostly for people who have low income. The best solution is to utilize tax subsidies in order to assist uninsured purchase health insurance. Tax policies should ensure that there is equity in the in access of affordable and beneficial health care services. If subsidies are offered to people, employers would be motivated to drop the coverage they offer, most individuals would drop the coverage offered by employers and turn to individual coverage. The result is that the net decrease in the number of people who are uninsured would be lesser. The tax structure can be used to develop equity in the procedure of funding health care. In this particular approach, the plans of private insurance companies are regulated in sense that they must accept every individual in their coverage. Each citizen can purchase insurance through a system whereby premiums are compensated through a combination of employer, employee and taxpayer contribution. This will enable citizens with low incomes attain governance assistance in terms of payment of premiums. This kind of model has been implemented in Switzerland and Germany and has been an effective method of enhancing efforts of universal health care coverage (Tuohy 1999). Policy makers should put into consideration strategic payment and funding methods that are used in the payment of physicians in the primary health care system. Arrangements of funding that is blended for instance capitalization, infrastructure funding, performance payment, as well as benefit packages. , should be offered to physicians as incentives for good quality services. The use of a blended procedure in the payment of physicians can be a potential response policy to the rejection of capitalism by many physicians in the primary health care system. In addition to addressing the resistance of physicians capitation, funding through blended procedures, can be useful in the promotion of achieving of precise policy objectives through targeting payment to reward or support desirable activities and programs (Tuohy 1999). Organization of primary health care services The organization of the health care service in Canada should incorporate a policy that ensures that service delivery is effective. Canada applies a mix of private and public organizations in the delivery of health care services .Most hospitals are usually organizations that are non –profit based however over the years there has been a rise in the number of privately owned organizations, which basically are profit geared. In order to develop equity in terms of service delivery by health care organizations it is essential for physicians to be encouraged to work as a team that is multidisciplinary and be remunerated through blended funding models. Secondly there should be expansion in the rage of providers of primary care services. The initiative of this particular policy should support the role that can be played by care givers who are basically not physicians. Although various initiatives have been developed in several provinces to expand have to integrate care givers such as midwives into the health care system, furthermore several legislations have been passed to this effect for instant in 1994 and 1998. However the essential reform of expansion should be based on initiative to expand training, funding and licensing care providers who are not physicians such doctors. This aspect can be useful in expansion of service delivery by primary health care organizations (Naylor 1996). Access and equity Various aspects of the primary health care sector should enhance access and equity when it comes to service deliver. When evaluating the aspect of access it is important that comprehensive coverage should be implemented in all areas in the country. The comprehensive coverage should ensure that that there is equity in terms of health care services in all regions. With the current inflation rates in society it is essential for the government to find strategies of ensuring that there is a balance in services delivery and distribution of health care resources in all regions. Attempts to reform health care services in Canada the government should ensure that the gaps that are present among providers are eliminated for the purpose of expanding access to health care and improving the quality of the service delivered in every region (Leatt & Pink 2000). Equity in terms of providing health care services should be reformed essentially in the aspect of gender. Health care services provided to men and women indicate as state of inequality. Services available for screening the health problems associated to women such as breast screening, and cervical screening are easily available and accessible to women. Most health care procedures have neglected the health needs of men .It is essential for health care policies to incorporate the mechanisms of developing equality in terms of provision of health care for all genders. Comprehensive care, continuity and coordination of care Primary health care should be associated to effective service delivery, in spite of the advanced innovations levels. There is need for integration of all the initiatives such as provision of health low cost health care services to every individual .The concerns of the policy should cover all the challenges faced by the Canadian health sector. The framework of this particular policy should ensure that access to health care by every citizen is equitable, whether on grounds of level of education, income, age and sex (Stein 2001). Strengths and weaknesses This criterion for policy development is essential for reforming the health care system in Canada .This is because this kind of policy will ensure that primary health care will actually be responsive to the needs of the community. The weakness of this proposal is that the process of change in the health care system can be districted when it comes to the implementation process. The major risk associated to the proposal is that implementation in the Canadian context may be difficult due to financial policies and other comprehensive factors (Hastings 1997). The implications for PHC providers, consumers, and the rest of the health system The implication for primary health care providers, consumers and the rest of the health care system is that significant changes will be made in the health care sector. By addressing issues such as more funding on infrastructure, reforms in the funding health care criteria and giving more support to physicians would be effective strategies for improving the health care sector. Performance measurement The performance measurement of the policy is through actual implementation of the proposals on the ground. In order to evaluate if the recommendations are actually practical and beneficial in the delivery of primary health are it essential for health care institutions and the government to make arrangements of actual implementation (Don 2001). Recommendations on how to improve the proposal or policy The best criterion for improving the recommendations of this particular proposal is to through research. In contrast to many proposals made in the health care sector, there have been no efforts in terms of building a base of knowledge to support the nature of reforms that have been recommended in the health care system. It is therefore important that to improve this particular policy through research (Baranek& Debe 1999). The second method of improving the proposal is by embracing pluralism in terms of funding and organizational models. Chances of improving the proposal can be offered through embracing the innovations without trying to change the already existing procedures. This kind of approach will be useful in trying to embrace change using cumulative change and diversity (Church & Barker 1998). Conclusion The innovation of a workable primary health care in Canada is an essential mechanism of defining fundamental possibilities of change in order to improve the well of individuals in the country. It is therefore important that all stake holders in the health care system embrace proposals that would improve service deliver. 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