FAQ

How is the health care system in Canada regulated?

Canada’s current health care system is governed by the Canada Health Act of 1984. Under this Act, Canadian health care is overwhelmingly funded by the government. That is, it is free for residents of Canada (Permanent Resident), with the exception of some areas. Such as dentistry, ophthalmology, cosmetology and others. However, residents of the country fully pay for their medicine as part of taxes paid annually to the Canadian budget. And taxes in Canada are much higher than in the United States where there is no free medicine.

Who finances the health care system in Canada?

In Canada, the government pays most of the health care costs. Necessary medical care for permanent residents of the country is free of charge. However, the health systems in the provinces differ from each other, and there are certain health services that must be paid for.

What is the Canadians Health Act?

The Health Canada Act was passed into law in 1984. It guarantees the right to health insurance and medical care to all citizens and permanent residents of Canada. It is sometimes called Medicare. The healthcare system in Canada is one of the best in the world.

What does the Canadian Health Act guarantee?

The Canadian Health Act sets out five rules. It ensures that healthcare in Canada must be:

• universal. The health of all citizens and permanent residents of Canada is insured by the state. Resident immigrants and convention refugees apply for health insurance in the province of residence. Refugee applicants are eligible for federal government programs. Parents of a child born in Canada apply for health insurance in the province of residence;
• mobile. The insurance policy is retained even if a resident moves from one province to another, changes jobs, switches to or from unemployment benefits or social assistance;
• affordable. Everyone in Canada has the right to health care from the country’s institutions and healthcare professionals;
• comprehensive. Provincial health insurance plans, such as the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), provide all medically necessary care;
• managed population. The health care system in Canada is governed by government representatives and elected officials. Health care costs are paid from taxes collected from the population.

How to get a medical degree in Canada?

It should be noted that Canada has a sufficient number of highly qualified medical professionals. After all, medical education in Canada is at a very high level. People who have obtained one of the medical degrees are required to pass a special qualifying examination (Qualifying Examination) by the professional organization Medical Council of Canada.

What is the name of the provincial health program in Ontario?

Each of the 10 provinces and each of the 3 territories of Canada is separately involved in the organization of health care on its territory. Specifically, Ontario’s provincial health program is called Ontario Health Coverage. Other provinces have their own similar programs. In any case, they are all eligible for the national Medicare program. Therefore, in Canada, you can get quality medical care in any region.

What types of health care can you get in Canada?

The backbone of Canadian healthcare is the so-called Family Phisician, who make up more than half of all doctors in the country. They monitor the health of their clients and determine to which specialist doctor the patient should be sent, if such a need arises. In addition, such a doctor, as a rule, knows a particular patient more deeply and can, upon request, consult a specialist doctor about certain aspects of the patient’s health.

There are also walk-in clinics in Canada. If you have a Health Card, you can always go to an appointment at such a clinic. It should be noted that most Canadians complain about the not very high level of logistics in such institutions. In particular, it is quite common to encounter long queues and slow service. However, do not forget that all of this is free. In any case, if there is an urgent situation, the walk-in clinic will provide fast and efficient service.

In every locality in Canada, there is an opportunity to use the services of a telephone line of free consultation (Health Links), with the help of which you can get expert advice on independent actions (or the undesirability of such actions) in a wide variety of cases, from fever to a traumatic situation. People with medical education and experience in medicine provide consultations.

Is immunization of the population mandatory in Canada?

Mandatory immunization of the population is one of the most effective ways to protect the population from serious infectious diseases (such as diphtheria, poliomyelitis, etc.). When registering a child for school, you must provide information about the availability of vaccinations. If any vaccinations are not enough, you need to contact your pediatrician or children’s health center for vaccinations.

Canada has a Community Immunization Schedule. For example, some vaccinations are given to children at 2 months of age, some – at 4 months, etc. Get a copy of the Immunization Schedule from your pediatrician, as the Schedule may vary from province to province. For information on vaccinations for school-age children, contact your city council at the Immunization Department.

Adult immunizations are also available in Canada. If you want to get vaccinated, you must contact your family doctor.

How do I call an ambulance in Canada?

If you need an emergency ambulance, call 911. If you are unable to get to the hospital on your own and you need urgent medical attention (difficulty breathing, heart attacks, and other possible causes of death), then call an ambulance. An ambulance team will arrive and take you to the emergency room at the hospital, where doctors will attend to you.

If you have a chronic illness: diabetes, high blood pressure, allergy to medications, you are obliged to inform your family doctor for appropriate medical care.

Am I entitled to maternity leave?

Maternity leave is the right of all working mothers in Canada. The temporary disability allowance is paid in connection with pregnancy, illness of one of the relatives, as well as persons who have been injured in the workplace or suffer from occupational diseases. The allowance is issued throughout the entire course of treatment. After that, such residents are entitled to a pension or a large one-time payment.

What do I need to know about doctors and clinics in Canada?

The health care system in Canada is largely based on primary care physicians who make up about 51% of all practicing physicians in Canada. They are the gateway between the patient and the formal health care system, and control access to most specialist doctors, hospital care, diagnostic tests, and prescription drugs. Such a family doctor can be changed an unlimited number of times on the advice of friends and a change in mood.

Most doctors have their own private practice and enjoy a high degree of autonomy. Many doctors work in hospitals or local health centers (There are polyclinics in the province of Quebec). For private doctors, the state pays for services depending on the assistance provided, and such doctors receive payment directly from the budget of the province or territory. Non-private therapists receive either a fixed salary or a fee based on the number of medical services provided.

When Canadians need medical care, they go to a general practitioner or clinic of their choice and show him/her a health insurance card, which is issued to all legal citizens and residents of the country. Canadians do not pay directly for medical services provided, and they do not need to fill out various forms for services covered by the insurance policy. There are no monetary limits or additional payments for such services.

Dentists work independently of the health care system unless there is an emergency dental surgeon’s need. Pharmacies are also independent organizations from the state.

More than 95% of all Canadian hospitals are operated as non-profit private organizations run by a local board of directors, volunteer organizations or municipalities. In addition to the national health insurance system, the provinces and territories also provide health care to those parts of the population that need additional health care – the elderly, children and the unemployed. These complementary healthcare packages often include free medicines, dental care, eye care, various aids for people with disabilities (prostheses, wheelchairs, etc.), and more.

Although the provinces and territories provide additional services to some segments of the population, this service sector is in the private sector, which means that the inhabitants of the country pay for them directly out of their own pockets. In this case, it is reasonable to purchase insurance that covers most of the costs of the services of a dentist, ophthalmologist, etc. Such insurance is often included in a compensation package that is offered along with salary.

When moving from one province to another, residents of Canada can still count on free medical care.

How do I get private insurance?

The largest private insurance company in Canada is Blue Cross. Their insurance plans include dental costs, medications, eyeglasses and lenses, and financial support for severe illness and temporary disability. Even with the Blue Cross insurance policy, you can safely travel around the country and not be afraid to go bankrupt if you end up in a hospital in another region. As with government insurance, Blue Cross coverage covers a specific range of services in each province. Find them out on the official website.

Sun Life Financial, another major Canadian company, issues insurance policies that cover the cost of crutches, prostheses and wheelchairs, medications for chronic diseases and medical services that have to be used overseas.

The services of private insurance companies in Canada are quite diverse – you can take out insurance for yourself and for a group of people, you can buy a “package of services”, but you can only cover, for example, dental treatment.

What are the best Canadian hospitals?

The top 10 hospitals in Canada are:

1. North York General Hospital
2. Toronto General Hospital
3. Vaughan Wellness Clinic
4. Vancouver General Hospital
5. The Royal Victoria Hospital
6. Royal Jubilee Hospital
7. Montreal General Hospital
8. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
9. Jewish General Hospital
10. Rockyview General Hospital

What are the best walk-in clinics in York Region?

1. Allaura Medical Centre – Walk-in Clinic
2. Aria Medical Clinic
3. Atlas Medical Clinic
4. Community Walk-in Clinic
5. Doctor’s Office (The) – Richmond Hill
6. Doctors on Bayview
7. Elgin Mills Crossing Clinic
8. Enhanced Care Medical Clinic – Aurora
9. Enhanced Care Medical Clinic – Aurora East
10. Enhanced Care Medical Clinic – Keswick
11. Enhanced Care Medical Clinic – Newmarket
12. Enhanced Care Medical Clinic – Thornhill
13. Improved Care Medical Clinic and Walk-in Clinic
14. Jane Major Mac Walk-in Medical Centre – Dr Robert Chen
15. Mackenzie Health Hospital – Urgent Care Centre
16. Major Mackenzie Medical Centre – Walk-in and Family Practice
17. Markham Road Medical Centre
18. Markham Stouffville Urgent Care
19. Matlis Medical – Urgent Care Clinic
20. MCI Doctor’s Office (The) – Thornhill – John St (Thornhill Square)
21. MCI The Doctor’s Office – Thornhill – Steeles Ave W (Main Exchange)
22. MCI The Doctor’s Office – Woodbridge – Windflower Gate
23. Medical Walk-in and Cosmetic Clinic
24. My Care Medical and Walk-in Clinic
25. Noolardi Medical Centre – Walk-in Clinic and Family Practice
26. Paywand Medical Centre – Walk-in Clinic and Family Practice
27. Pharmalinx Medical Centre – Walk-In Clinic
28. Promenade Medical Centre – Walk in Medical Clinic and Family Practice
29. Richmond Hill Medical and After Hours Clinic
30. Richpoint Medical Centre
31. Rutherford Medical Clinic
32. Sharon Medical Clinic
33. SunMed Walk-in Clinic and Family Practice
34. Trinity Medical and Travel Clinic – East Gwillimbury
35. Tuscany Medical Centre
36. Uptown Health Centre
37. Vaughan Medical Centre
38. Vaughan Medical Clinic
39. Viva Health Medical Centre
40. Walk-in Clinic on Bayview
41. Woodbridge Family Physicians
42. Woodbridge Med Walk-In Clinic
43. Woodbridge Medical Centre Family Health Team
44. Woodbridge Urgent Care Clinic
45. Woodbridge Urgent Care Clinic
46. York Children Walk-in Clinic
47. York Medical – East Gwillimbury – Green Lane
48. York Medical – Richmond Hill
49. York Medical Health Centre – Newmarket
50. Yorkdale Medical Clinic

What are community centers in Vaughan?

Vaughan Community Health Centre
9401 Jane Street, Suite 206
Vaughan, ON L6A 4H7