Canada ranks near the bottom of industrialized countries

According to a study by the Commonwealth Fund, Canada ranks second-last for the quality of its health care among a group of 13 industrialized countries. Only the United States ranks worse.

This study examined the state of health care in Canada, the United States, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Study results were announced after an analysis of data plus surveys conducted among doctors and patients in each of these countries.

Cathy Schoen, report co-author for the Commonwealth Fund, says Canada loses points for weak primary care services and because it has been slow computerize patient records.

Other negative aspects revealed in interviews with patients include wait times to see a doctor and the overuse of emergency room  beds for non-emergency situations.

An analysis of data collected by the study shows that Canada has the fewest doctors per capita among the 13 countries. In Canada, the average is 2.2 physicians per 1,000 inhabitants. In comparison, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland have 3.9 doctors for the same ratio.