A comparative study of the health care systems of Canada and Saudi Arabia: lessons and insights

Introduction: Understanding the structure of a health care system is essential in improving public health policies and health outcomes. Objectives: To describe and compare the health care systems of Canada and Saudi Arabia; to discuss possible lessons that could be learned from both for policy‐makin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International dental journal 2009-10, Vol.59 (5), p.277-283
Main Authors: Qutub, Akram F, Al-Jewair, Thikriat S, Leake, James L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Canada
Dental Care - economics
Dental Care - organization & administration
dental delivery system
Dentistry
Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology
Financing, Organized
Health care system
Health Policy
Health Services Accessibility
Health Status Indicators
Humans
Medical sciences
National Health Programs - economics
National Health Programs - organization & administration
Non tumoral diseases
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Ownership
Private Sector
Public Sector
Quality Assurance, Health Care
Saudi Arabia
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Summary:Introduction: Understanding the structure of a health care system is essential in improving public health policies and health outcomes. Objectives: To describe and compare the health care systems of Canada and Saudi Arabia; to discuss possible lessons that could be learned from both for policy‐making purposes. Methods: A comprehensive method was used to describe the national health care systems of both countries. For each country, the system is described by: context, ownership, delivery, financing, organisational structure, target groups, and comprehensiveness of services. Results: In Canada, the Medicare system provides comprehensive medical services except for dental, optometric, chiropractic, pharmacologic and home care services. The dental care system is financed privately (94%) and is owned and delivered by private for‐profit dental practitioners. In Saudi Arabia, the government sector is owned, delivered, and financed by the government and provides free comprehensive medical and dental services. The same services are provided by the private sector, but under governmental supervision. Among the relevant lessons: access to care, accountability, quality assurance, mix and reimbursement of providers. Conclusions: Canada can learn about different approaches to socialising the dental care system. Saudi Arabia can improve the implementation of quality assurance practices and management.
ISSN:0020-6539
1875-595X
DOI:10.1922/IDJ_2215Qutub07