Public Health Around the Globe: Understanding Canada’s Health Care and Public Health Systems
As part of our Public Health Around the Globe series, students in the HSMP 574/674 course taught by SPH Assistant Professor Kathleen Conte, examined how Canada’s health care and public health systems are structured, how they promote equity, and where challenges remain. Through their comprehensive informational packet, students explore how Canada’s approach to universal coverage is closely tied to a strong public health infrastructure.
Foundations of Canada’s Medicare System
The packet outlines the foundations of Canada’s Medicare system, which is built on the principle that access to health care should be based on need rather than ability to pay. Students trace the historical development of universal hospital and physician coverage and explain how the Canada Health Act established five core principles—public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility—that continue to guide health care delivery across provinces and territories.
The Role of Public Health in Supporting Health Care
A major focus of the packet is the role of public health in supporting the health care system. Students examine how public health efforts in prevention, health promotion, emergency preparedness, and chronic disease management help sustain Canada’s universal system by reducing long‑term costs and avoiding preventable illness. They also explore the work of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the broader federal “Health Portfolio,” which coordinates research, regulation, and protection efforts nationwide.
The students offer a balanced evaluation of Canada’s system through analyses of equity and timeliness. While Canada performs well in reducing financial barriers and ensuring universal access to core services, the packet highlights persistent inequities—particularly for Indigenous populations and for services not universally covered, such as prescription drugs, dental, and vision care. Students also explore the tradeoff between universal access and longer wait times for specialists and elective procedures.
The packet identifies key lessons for the United States, including the benefits of universal coverage, potential cost savings from reducing administrative waste, and the importance of investing in coordinated primary care to improve population health outcomes.
Interested In Learning More?
We encourage you to download the full student‑created informational packet (PDF) to explore Canada’s health care and public health systems in greater depth and consider how global models can inform public health practice in the U.S.