February 2002
February Questions & Answers and February Graph
by Joel Emes
Q: How much of total government spending goes towards health care? How has this changed in the last decade?
A: Total government spending in 2000/01 was $416.6 billion. Of this, $69.4 billion or 16.7 percent went towards health care. In 1992/93, Canadian governments spent $50.9 billion on health care, 13.9 percent of the $365.3 billion in total spending. Table 1 shows health and total spending by year, the year-to-year percentage change in these spending categories, and health care spending as a percentage of total spending. There have been relatively large percentage increases in health-related spending in the last four fiscal years.
Table 1: Health Care Spending by All Levels of Government
|
1992/93 |
1993/94 |
1994/95 |
1995/96 |
1996/97 |
1997/98 |
1998/99 |
1999/00 |
2000/01 |
|
|
Health care spending |
50,892 |
51,597 |
51,753 |
53,105 |
53,427 |
56,762 |
59,608 |
62,639 |
69,385 |
|
Year-to-year |
1.4 |
0.3 |
2.6 |
0.6 |
6.2 |
5.0 |
5.1 |
10.8 |
|
|
Total spending |
365,336 |
368,752 |
373,760 |
381,158 |
371,693 |
372,696 |
386,147 |
398,406 |
416,646 |
|
Year-to-year |
0.9 |
1.4 |
2.0 |
(2.5) |
0.3 |
3.6 |
3.2 |
4.6 |
|
|
Health care spending as a percent of total spending |
13.9 |
14.0 |
13.8 |
13.9 |
14.4 |
15.2 |
15.4 |
15.7 |
16.7 |
Sources: Statistics Canada, Public Institutions Division, Financial Management System; calculations by the author.
Q: How has the number of health care professionals changed over the last decade?
A: In 1998, Canada had fewer licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and physicians per 100,000 population than in 1989. The ratio for other categories of health care professionals either remained the same as in 1989 (optometrists) or increased. The percentage increases in the ratio between 1989 and 1998 for pharmacists, psychologists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and dental hygienists were all in double digits. Table 2 lists the number of licensed health care professionals per 100,000 population for 1989 and 1998 and the percentage change in the ratios between 1989 and 1998.
Table 2: Licensed Health Care Professionals
per 100,000 Canadians
|
1989 |
1998 |
Percentage change |
|
|
Licensed Practical Nurses |
301 |
250 |
(17.0) |
|
Registered Nurses |
804 |
750 |
(7.2) |
|
Physicians |
187 |
185 |
(0.5) |
|
Optometrists |
11 |
11 |
0.0 |
|
Dentists |
52 |
54 |
4.0 |
|
Pharmacists |
67 |
76 |
13.0 |
|
Psychologists |
32 |
40 |
25.0 |
|
Physiotherapists |
37 |
49 |
32.0 |
|
Chiropractors |
12 |
16 |
33.0 |
|
Dental Hygienists |
29 |
46 |
59.0 |
Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information, Health Care in Canada 2001, p. 47.
Q: How much do Canadians spend on health care relative to other high-income countries?
A: Canada's total health care spending (government plus private) as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranks fifth highest among the 30 nations in the OECD. This month's graph shows total health care spending as a percentage of GDP for Canada and 16 other OECD nations.
Joel Emes (joele@fraserinstitute.ca) is Senior Research Economist at The Fraser Institute. He has an M.A. in Economics from Simon Fraser University.
info@fraserinstitute.ca
4th Floor, 1770 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6J 3G7
Tel: (604) 688-0221 Fax: (604) 688-8539 Book Orders: 1-800-665-3558 ext. 580
You can contact us at the above email address for any comments or information requests. Please report any dead links or technical problems.