Healthcare financing in Canada and Singapore : protection and satisfaction

Abstract

This paper seeks to examine the level of protection and satisfaction faced by individuals in two distinct healthcare systems of two countries namely Canada and Singapore. The first part of this paper focuses on protection in which detailed data will be presented to show that the low-income and aged in Singapore face significantly higher levels of burden in financing their healthcare costs than those in Canada. A greater level of burden on these vulnerable groups would mean that they are less likely to be protected by the healthcare system as a result of being unable to afford their healthcare costs. The second part of this paper focuses on consumer satisfaction. By means of a survey, we will show that Singaporeans, nevertheless, are more satisfied with their healthcare system than Canadians. This paper then concludes with the implications for healthcare policymaking for both countries and recommendations on how each system can enhance both protection and satisfaction for its people.