Three Quarters of Canadians (74%) Support Increased Federal Funding for Provinces with Older Populations
Ottawa, ON - Canadians recognize the increased burden placed on the healthcare system as the population continues to age, with three quarters of Canadians (74%) indicating they support a funding system whereby provinces with older populations receive more money. Not surprisingly, Canadians 55+ are more likely to support (85%) this sentiment compared to middle age 35-54 (70%) and younger 18-34 (66%) Canadians. These are among the findings of the 2016 National Report Card on Health Care, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the Canadian Medical Association.
As the discussions for the new Health Accord draw closer, Canadians are generally unaware of the negotiations between their provincial and federal governments. Over one in ten (15%) Canadians are aware of these discussions, with men twice as likely to be aware as women (21% vs. 10%). Confidence in these discussions is soft, with half (50%) confident the federal and provincial governments will come to an agreement (40% not confident); confidence further declines to over four in ten (44%) indicating they are confident the new Health Accord will actually result in a better healthcare system (48% not confident).
Funding Priorities
Despite a lack of awareness, Canadians are generally in agreement on the funding priorities for the healthcare system in the new Health Accord. The top funding considerations are a strategy for seniors health (84% very or somewhat important), improved mental health services (83% very or somewhat important), prescription drugs (80% very or somewhat important), palliative care (80% very or somewhat important), and homecare (79% very or somewhat important). While a new prescription drug plan is considered a priority by Canadians, there is no consensus on the main benefit of a new drug plan: half (50%) believe the benefit is to extend coverage to those who don't have it, and the other half (50%) believe lower drug prices is the main benefit.
Canadians prefer to spend new funding from the federal government to improve the current healthcare system (55%) rather than on efforts to modernize, innovate and transform the healthcare system (45%). In fact, Canadians who are "heavy users" are even more likely to prefer improving the current system (70%) compared to lighter users (56% medium user, 46% light user).
Reporting Requirements
Canadians may want some built-in accountability with how funds are delivered under the new Health Accord. A majority of Canadians (67%) agree the federal government should identify common indicators across provinces/territories to encourage accountability - a sentiment that increases with age.
Furthermore, a majority of Canadians agree (60%) that federal government funding should be contingent on the provinces/territories fulfilling reporting requirements. Agreement also increases with age, and is higher among the Atlantic provinces.
Canadians Grade Health Care Services in Canada
Seven in ten (73%) Canadians give the overall quality of healthcare services available to them and their families an `A' or `B' grade. Over one third assigns an `A' grade (37%).
When it comes to accessing care in their communities, three in five Canadians grade access to a family doctor as an `A' or `B' (66%). About half (58%) grade access to wellness and preventative care as an `A' or `B'.
A higher proportion of Canadians grade access to palliative care in a hospice or hospital as an `A' or `B' (50%) compared to palliative care at home (36%).
About four in ten grade access to home health care services (48%) and access to mental health care services (45%) as an `A' or `B'.
Canadians are equally likely to say that healthcare services have become better (44%) or worse (45%) in the past five years - an improvement compared to 2015 (35% better, 48% worse). This is consistent with respondents assigning higher grades for the healthcare system overall (73% graded `A' or `B' this year compared to 70% in 2015).
Likewise, Canadians have also improved their grades on the future of healthcare services in their community. Over four in ten Canadians think that health care services in their community will get better (42%, up from 38% points from 2015) over the next two or three years. Over four in ten (43%, down from 49% in 2015) think services will get worse.
These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between July 22 and 27, 2016, on behalf of the Canadian Medical Association. For this survey, a sample of 1,286 adult Canadians was interviewed online via the Ipsos I-Say Panel. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/ - 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all eligible voters been polled. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
Mike Colledge
President
Ipsos Public Affairs
(613) 688-8971
[email protected]
About Ipsos
Ipsos ranks third in the global research industry. With a strong presence in 87 countries, Ipsos employs more than 16,000 people and has the ability to conduct research programs in more than 100 countries. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is controlled and managed by research professionals. They have built a solid Group around a multi-specialist positioning-- Media and advertising research; Marketing research; Client and employee relationship management; Opinion & social research; Mobile, Online, Offline data collection and delivery. Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999. www.ipsos.com
