Misleading: Canada's Healthcare System Ranking
The Claim
Canada has the best healthcare system of any country.
News posted on
Emerging story
Canada’s healthcare system has been a common topic of discussion over the past several years. As early as 2014, a Twitter user posted: “#Fact: Not everyone is benefiting from #Obamacare, because it's so watered down. #Canada has the best #healthcare because it's #socialized.”
Similar tweets have surfaced, while others say that this statement is untrue for certain conditions including eating disorders.
Still today, many are discussing Canada’s healthcare system ranking.
Misbar’s Analysis
Canada has a population of 37.85 million and this number continues to grow.
According to US News, as of January 2020, Canada is ranked #1 for the best healthcare system. However, in another ranking in 2020 by the World Population Review, Canada scored #30 with France leading the list as #1 in healthcare.
Another list compiled by Cigna Global, places Canada as #3 with Denmark serving as #1 on the list. In the latest 2020 list from Business insider, Canada isn’t even in the top 5; instead, Portugal is leading this list.
The criteria by which these lists identify “the best” is very subjective and many seem to come to various conclusions through their own factors. It is hard to specifically identify anyone as the best in healthcare through these factors. While Canada’s single-payer model provides broad coverage for little to no out-of-pocket cost, it is also notorious for its long wait times.
As such, Misbar finds the claim that Canada has the best healthcare system in the world to be misleading.
