The Future of Healthcare: Pros and Cons of Healthcare Privatization in Ontario
If you’ve been listening to the news or browsing online forums regarding healthcare in Ontario lately, you’ll know that the topic of healthcare privatization has been becoming more and more prevalent.
Province-wide, there have been numerous cases of hospitals having to shut down their emergency departments overnight due to staffing shortages, which is in part caused by healthcare workers feeling burnt out and Bill 124 - which restricts annual wage increases to 1%. As an outcome, there has been an influx of healthcare workers leaving the public sector and moving towards private clinics where they offer better work/life balance, higher pay, and more flexibility. This puts a further strain on the public healthcare system in Ontario which is already overcrowded.
According to a recent article by CTVNews, Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford has mentioned that the province will need to “get creative” with healthcare delivery and that “everything is on the table”. This has led to speculation that Ford is aiming to slowly transition our public healthcare system into a private one, but he has also stated that procedures will continue to be covered under OHIP.
So what does this mean for Ontarians? Here are 5 ways healthcare privatization may impact us.
Shorter wait times
One of the major benefits to healthcare privatization is that you can receive treatment quickly as you can research and choose which clinic and doctor you prefer to see. With public healthcare, unless you are in an emergency situation, you will likely be placed in a long queue that can take weeks, months, or even years to get seen.
Better pay for healthcare workers
It’s well known that doctors and nurses are compensated far better in the private industry, this is due to the fact that they are not governed by Bill 124. They have the flexibility of negotiating their benefits and pay while their scope of work remains relatively the same, as they typically end up working in public hospitals who often pay a premium to hire agency nurses as substitutes for their in-house staff.
Increased quality of service and personalized care
According to C-Care Health Services, public healthcare is subject to rules and limitations related to staffing, budgeting, and resources. As a result, patients often receive generalized care that can overlook the unique needs of each patient.
Reliant on businesses providing employees with comprehensive health benefit plans
While Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford states that procedures will still be covered under OHIP, we have to consider the cost of overnight recovery stays, medication, and other post-procedure costs. These might have to come out of our own pocket and can get quite costly. This puts the onus on businesses and employers to provide their staff with comprehensive supplemental health benefit programs to reduce their out-of-pocket costs.
As an employee, you may be more inclined to stay in a role you may not be particularly happy to retain access to your employer's benefit program.
Inequality
Those with more wealth will be able to be seen in a shorter period of time as they are able to afford any supplemental costs that come with procedures done in private clinics, whereas those with less may need to continue waiting in long queues at their local hospital which may be underfunded and understaffed. This widens the gap between the wealthy and the working class even further.
Who are we?
RhynoCare is a Toronto-based healthcare start-up who provides both virtual and mobile healthcare services. Some of our services such as virtual appointments with our qualified doctors are covered by OHIP during regular business hours, while in-home assessments are subject to additional fees of $79.99 and up. Our customer service team is here to support you at 416-830-8181 from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. if you require any assistance. For after hours support, please email us at info@rhynocare.com.