Health care in Canada of permanent residents is offered free for treatments clinically necessary. However, most of the drugs required for treatment needs payment. If treatment is not considered necessary (elective cosmetic surgery, for instance), then it will not be covered by the public healthcare system. A large proportion of Canadians have health plans or employment partially or completely covering the costs of necessary medicines for treatment (Fierlbeck, 2011). While the federal government has provided a framework aimed at financing the health system, the distribution of services of health care is handled by provincial governments. For instance, obesity is a prevailing issue in Canada. The number of Canadians with problems of obesity has tripled since the mid-eighties. This phenomenon, experts say, has been mainly in adults who are extremely overweight and whose health complications c
...ould add one more factor complicating the already busy public health system.
In addition, there is a social disparity among Canadian parents with low income earnings. This is because they have fewer resources to make some healthy food choices. Processed foods are affordable long-term and in rural areas or disadvantaged neighborhoods, families may not have a well-stocked supermarket nearby. Instead, parents may have to resort to small stores on the corner, which often have no fresh fruit or vegetables. To begin with public health can regulate food prices in order to curb the situation. Secondly, ignorance is an issue as many Canadians in rural areas are not familiar with healthy eating habits (Fierlbeck, 2011). As a result, awareness programs could be spread across the country. Physical exercise should be encouraged by public health and clinics across Canada as well as mandatory physical
exercises in both public and private schools to reduce obesity.
Economic costing is often used to present public health issues. Using example, discuss the effectiveness of this approach.
Economic costing is a technique employed to assess investments taking into account issues of economic, social and environmental considerations, which are not considered in purely financial valuations. Since healthcare problems such as obesity harms the system by increasing risks of diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, billions of dollars are spent every year. This is where economic costing comes in (Lane & Davis, 2007). This type of analysis is used especially in public investment, which, in addition to purely economic aspects, it is necessary to consider the effects on healthcare welfare. A good example is expanding coverage in health insurance to all citizens by the government, especially the uninsured. Health problems harm a nation’s GDP. Through economic costing, standards of living are improved. Unemployment rates go down since money is spent economically. ‘Against the Growing Burden of Disease’ identifies four common risk factors for chronic diseases. Select one of these risk factors and propose two specific public health initiatives that have the ability to change the behavior of the Canadian youth (12–18 years old) population.
Unhealthy diets are a common risk factor as identified by ‘Against the Growing Burden of Disease.’ This is especially true in Canada where most people who live with obesity, obesity-related diseases and other chronic diseases eat unhealthy foods (Elmslie, 2012). For Canadian youths, the lifestyles of average teenagers, loaded with fast food and video games is the major cause of the high prevalence rates of obesity among adolescents in Canada. Canadian adolescents who are
overweight are at risk mayor of high blood pressure, diabetes and decreased social welfare. The Canadian Government in conjunction with both private and public initiatives could take a number of steps to increase physical activity and healthy food choices, including the implementation of a tax credit for parents who enroll their children in eligible physical activity programs (Elmslie, 2012). They could also connect consumers with resources for healthy living. In addition to nutrition and physical activity recommendations in schools, the Canadian Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education could provide learning plans to encourage healthy eating and physical activity that meets educational standards all the way from kindergarten to higher youth classes.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has a number of domestic initiatives that address the growing burden of chronic diseases (see slide 21 from Elmslie K). In your opinion, how effective are these initiatives in reaching the lay Canadian population and thus addressing the four identified common risk factors for chronic diseases?
Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care, Age-Friendly Communities Initiative and Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control are all initiatives within Canadian borders that are aimed at educating the masses, encouraging healthy lifestyles and preventing obesity problems among other health issues (Elmslie, 2012). In my own personal opinion, I believe that although living conditions causing obesity in Canada may require more research, the importance of health initiatives based school coincides closely with those offered in Canada. The country offers a food guide, nutrition labeling resources, guides and school nutrition programs that promote fruits, vegetables and physical activity at school. Such initiatives play a very crucial role in Canadian health and significantly contribute to the
nation’s healthcare (Elmslie, 2012). Without them, I believe Canadian health would suffer serious challenges. By financing such efforts through the Healthy Living Fund, Canadians avoid using food as a reward since they promote physical activity, working with parents and promote healthy eating and limit the sale of unhealthy products in machines schools are encouraged vending schools. These initiatives address the four common risks of poor healthcare including tobacco smoking, alcohol use, unhealthy eating and poor practices in physical exercises.
Discuss Patz et al. (2014) in relation to its effectiveness for an evidence-informed public health approach in addressing climate change.
Patz et al (2014) addresses the issue of climate change in a public health technique. Climate change increases the burden of many diseases for too many societies, particularly in the developing world. Thermal stress, malnutrition, diarrheal diseases such as cholera, and vector- borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, have changes in their distribution and many of them are increasing as a result of climate change. However, through greater coordination of the global community can help overcome these threats to improve health and at the same time, slow the pace of climate change. Many of the report’s recommendations are in line with the global contribution on climate change, such as increased funding in the field of resilience to climate change and expanding access to renewable energy sources.
Research evidence has identified high-risk groups that may experience heat-related disorders in relation to climate change. These include elderly persons, those living in poverty, and those with underlying mental illnesses. In relation to the possible impact of climate change on respiratory disorders and infectious diseases, do you anticipate social disparities in health
outcomes within Canada? Discuss.
Social determinants and disparities in Canada are at most risk of experiencing health problems like obesity. This is the key aspect of working conditions of people and their lifestyles that explain to a large proportion of the difference in the existing health indicators (Hankivsky, 2011). I believe that differences in health are not only a great social injustice, but also attract the attention of scientists on some of the most powerful determinants of health standards in modern societies such as in Canada, More specifically, these social disparities have allowed greater understanding of the special sensitivity of health to the social environment (Davies, Fitzgerald & Mousouli, 2008). Issues such as drugs, social support, poverty, unemployment, working conditions and transport policy are some of the determinants that act strongly on people from early childhood. Other elements that influence powerfully in health and styles promoters life health are sociological and psychological variables: the behavior is an unavoidable link in the causal chain of most environmental and genetic determinants and the consequent effects that they have on health.
References
- Davies, H. D., Fitzgerald, H. E., & Mousouli, V. (2008). Obesity in childhood and adolescence.
Westport, Conn: Praeger. - Elmslie, K. (2012). Against the growing burden of disease. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of
Canada, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention. - Fierlbeck, K. (2011). Health care in Canada: A citizen's guide to policy and politics. Toronto:
University of Toronto Press. - Hankivsky, O. (Ed.). (2011). Health inequities in Canada: Intersectional frameworks and
practices. UBC Press. - Lane, A., & Davis, S. (2007). Community Mental Health in Canada: Policy, Theory and Practice.
Canada: UBC Press.
