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Canada: A land of missed opportunity for addressing the social determinants of health

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  • Bryant, Toba
  • Raphael, Dennis
  • Schrecker, Ted
  • Labonte, Ronald

Abstract

The first 25 years of universal public health insurance in Canada saw major reductions in income-related health inequalities related to conditions most amenable to medical treatment. While equity issues related to health care coverage and access remain important, the social determinants of health (SDH) represent the next frontier for reducing health inequalities, a point reinforced by the work of the World Health Organization's Commission on Social Determinants of Health. In this regard, Canada's recent performance suggests a bleak prognosis. Canada's track record since the 1980s in five respects related to social determinants of health: (a) the overall redistributive impact of tax and transfer policies; (b) reduction of family and child poverty; (c) housing policy; (d) early childhood education and care; and (e) urban/metropolitan health policy have reduced Canada's capacity to reduce existing health inequalities. Reasons for this are explored and means of advancing this agenda are outlined.

Suggested Citation

  • Bryant, Toba & Raphael, Dennis & Schrecker, Ted & Labonte, Ronald, 2011. "Canada: A land of missed opportunity for addressing the social determinants of health," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(1), pages 44-58, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:101:y:2011:i:1:p:44-58
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    3. Katerina Maximova & Nancy Hanusaik & Natalie Kishchuk & Gilles Paradis & Jennifer L. O’Loughlin, 2016. "Public health strategies promoting physical activity and healthy eating in Canada: are we changing paradigms?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(5), pages 565-572, June.
    4. Kelsey Lucyk & Lindsay McLaren, 2017. "Taking stock of the social determinants of health: A scoping review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-24, May.
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