SPPA Adjunct Professor Ruolz Ariste is shedding light on a critical issue in Canada’s healthcare system

SPPA Adjunct Professor Ruolz Ariste is shedding light on a critical issue in Canada’s healthcare system. In his latest article, he examines the dramatic rise in physician spending, from $13.2 billion in 2000 to $47.5 billion in 2023, and questions what that money has actually achieved.

Despite the surge in spending, access to primary care hasn’t improved. Ariste points out that most of the increase is tied to higher costs per service, not more services being delivered. In fact, once you account for population growth and aging, Canadians are actually receiving fewer services per person.

While the physician workforce has grown, individual doctors are providing fewer services, likely due to reduced working hours and a stronger focus on work-life balance. The faster growth of specialist roles compared to family physicians is only adding to the pressure on primary care.

Ariste argues that simply spending more or adding more doctors won’t fix the problem. Instead, he calls for smarter policy solutions, improving healthcare delivery efficiency, restructuring compensation to support primary care, and expanding the role of nurse practitioners.

A must-read for anyone thinking seriously about the future of healthcare in Canada.

Check out the article here!