Key Takeaways:
- Privatization of healthcare services, such as cataract, hip, and knee surgeries, is on the rise in Ontario, with a significant increase in funding to private clinics.
- This trend is leading to a two-tiered healthcare system, where affluent patients can access care more quickly and easily, while low-income patients face longer wait times and reduced access to services.
- The experience of England, where privatization has led to significant increases in healthcare costs and decreased access to care for marginalized populations, serves as a warning to Ontario.
- The Ontario government’s decision to divert funding to private clinics is exacerbating the problem, with private clinics catering to wealthier clientele and located primarily in urban areas.
- The Canadian Medical Association has found that privatization of cataract surgeries in Ontario has led to increased inequity in access to care, with affluent patients experiencing a 22% increase in access to care, while marginalized populations saw a 9% decrease.
Introduction to Privatization in Healthcare
The privatization of healthcare services is a growing concern in Ontario, with a recent study highlighting the risks of a two-tiered system where affluent patients can access care more quickly and easily, while low-income patients face longer wait times and reduced access to services. Allyson Pollock, a professor emerita at Newcastle University, has been investigating the availability of cataract, knee, and hip surgeries in England and Scotland over a 20-year period. Her research has shown that the current system in England benefits more affluent patients who can jump the queue by accessing care at private, for-profit facilities, while the poorest and often less healthy citizens suffer longer wait-times for hip and knee surgery due to reduced capacity in public hospitals.
The Experience of England
Pollock’s research has highlighted the dangers of privatization, with England’s experience serving as a warning to Ontario. In England, the privatization of healthcare services has led to significant increases in healthcare costs and decreased access to care for marginalized populations. The number of cataract surgeries performed in private clinics in England has increased dramatically, from 15% in 2019 to 59% in 2024, with annual expenditure increasing by 95% to £522 million (close to $1 billion Canadian). This expansion has come at a steep cost to the public purse, with the private sector taking away precious resources from the public system.
The Impact on Ontario
The Ontario government’s decision to divert funding to private clinics is exacerbating the problem, with private clinics catering to wealthier clientele and located primarily in urban areas. Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, notes that private clinics are luring specialists away from public hospitals, leading to increased wait times for patients who cannot afford to pay for private care. Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, adds that the current provincial government views privatization as a way to lower wait times, but this approach is leading to a two-tiered system where affluent patients can access care more quickly and easily, while low-income patients face longer wait times and reduced access to services.
Inequity in Access to Care
The Canadian Medical Association has found that privatization of cataract surgeries in Ontario has led to increased inequity in access to care, with affluent patients experiencing a 22% increase in access to care, while marginalized populations saw a 9% decrease. Hurley notes that private clinics in Ontario are located primarily in the wealthiest neighborhoods of large urban centers, leaving rural areas and small towns like Midland without access to these services. This divide in access to care is a major concern, with Hurley emphasizing the need for Ontario to "course-correct as soon as possible before the system is deeply fractured like in England."
Conclusion
The privatization of healthcare services in Ontario is a growing concern, with the experience of England serving as a warning. The Ontario government’s decision to divert funding to private clinics is exacerbating the problem, leading to a two-tiered system where affluent patients can access care more quickly and easily, while low-income patients face longer wait times and reduced access to services. It is essential for Ontario to address these concerns and ensure that all patients have equal access to healthcare services, regardless of their income or location. By learning from the experience of England and taking steps to prevent the privatization of healthcare services, Ontario can ensure that its healthcare system remains public, universal, and accessible to all.
