Medicare's reputation in free fall before budget
CMAJ 1999;160:1121
© 1999 Canadian Medical Association
Recent public opinion polls indicate that the number of Canadians who consider the health care system excellent or very good has fallen from a high of 60% in 1991 to a low of 24% in 1999. Meanwhile, the proportion of Canadians rating it fair or poor peaked this year at 44%. The results help explain Ottawa's concentration on health care in the February federal budget.
More than half of the 1999 respondents (57%) said the quality of health care had worsened in their community during the past 2 years, and most placed the blame on provincial governments (51%).
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In February Canadians were also asked about the top issues Canada's leaders should address and 58% of respondents cited health care without being prompted; this response was most common in Alberta (63%). Unemployment was the second most cited issue (21%). This contrasts sharply with a year ago, when only 15% cited health care as a top issue and 35% mentioned unemployment.
Women were more likely to cite health care as an important issue (65%) than men (51%), and those over age 55 were more concerned (67%) than those aged 35 to 54 (56%).
More than three-quarters of Canadians (76%) felt that the February budget was "on the right track" and 42% believed that the money the federal government injected into the health care system will bring noticeable improvements in the quality of health care. However, more than half of respondents (54%) felt the budget will have little impact on health care.
This column was written by Lynda Buske, chief, physician resources information planning, CMA. Readers may send potential research topics to Patrick Sullivan (sullip@cma.ca; 613 731-8610 or 800 663-7336 x2126; fax 613 565-2382).
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