As an Indian healthcare worker who recently relocated to Canada, I’ve been attempting to understand the Canadian healthcare system!
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The Indian healthcare system trusts competent professionals and institutions, whereas Canadian healthcare relies on an organized system. Aside from the obvious analogies, today I’d like to discuss how both systems approach and implement the essential humanitarian ideals of all healthcare
Everyone, from an athlete looking to return to sport to a person receiving palliative care who wants to live with dignity, expects and requires five essential outcomes from healthcare: accessibility, inclusivity, consent, and collaborative care. They serve as the foundation for good healthcare ethics and help to build public trust in the system.
Healthcare Accessibility: “I want to be independent”
Accessible, universal design is the norm in the Canadian ecology, which promotes a high quality of life. A person in a wheelchair can leave the office, board a bus, and go to the beach just as effortlessly as someone without locomotor problems. Public life is methodically designed to accommodate all types of impairments—auditory, visual, cognitive, and locomotor. Braille road signs, audio and visual feedback for road crossings, priority accessible seats in public transport and trigger warnings are all examples of comprehensive, thoughtful care. You can be confident that healthcare professionals will accommodate any disabilities you may have! Its predictability brings tranquilly, and its omnipresence provides certainty!
In contrast, accessible designs remain ‘nice-to-haves’ in Indian infrastructure. A person with a handicap and their healthcare professionals must devote significant time to developing these solutions and adapting to diverse real-world settings. There’s a long way to go before universal design becomes the norm. Relying on the help of those around you remains the go-to strategy.
Healthcare Inclusivity: “I need to feel seen, heard, and accepted.”
This region of the world, made up primarily of nations that have historically not been inclusive, is now resolved to change that! Every facet of social life reflects the desire to make everyone feel accepted. A culture of equality and inclusivity is promoted through a variety of measures, including the use of preferred pronouns and infrastructure improvements such as gender-neutral restrooms and baby changing facilities in all restrooms. There is a greater understanding and acceptance of the fact that everyone has different cultural sensibilities. Healthcare providers must be sensitive to cultural, age, and gender differences. Rehabilitation is being tailored to meet individual health beliefs.
Respect for everybody has long been a major principle in Indian culture. Inclusivity is second nature in a community famed for its ‘Unity in Diversity’. In a country where over 100 languages are spoken, professionals must balance politeness with ensuring that their messages are not lost in translation! The availability of forms, patient education, and information in regional languages is therefore critical. Communicating effectively while respecting the client’s age, educational background, and cultural issues requires a high level of competence. Having staff who are considerate of a person’s interests, attitudes, and values may be the reason why a client returns to your care over and again!
Healthcare Consent: “My body, my choice”!
Autonomy and control over your body are important aspects of dignity. Consent is always the first step towards successful rehabilitation. Consent or refusal to the planned treatment, as well as its recording, is an important legal part of healthcare. It’s interesting to see how different societies approach consent!
In Canada, there are specific standards regarding when written consent is required, where verbal consent is acceptable, and when and who should be included as a substitute decision maker. In most cases, implicit or tacit permission is unjustified. The perpetrators face severe legal consequences. In India, identical requirements apply to hospital installations, but outpatient clinics are less strict. Most clinics just require verbal consent.
In Canada, a kid can consent to or refuse rehabilitation if they comprehend the how, what, and why of it. It is a wonderful idea to give the youngster authority over what happens to their own bodies. In Indian healthcare, parents and guardians have the authority to make decisions for minors, which is consistent with family-oriented values.
Today, the most essential form of consent is the sharing of information via social media sites. Healthcare data is too intimate to be freely shared on public sites. Navigating consent to post the client’s personal content in an advertising capacity is a highly delicate matter that is closely regulated by relevant authorities in Canada. People in India appear to be more receptive to discussing health issues, which may explain why ‘word-of-mouth’ advertising works so well. However, publishing information on social media still requires agreement, albeit verbal if not documented. Advertising guidelines must still be fine-tuned to respect patients’ right to privacy.
Healthcare Collaboration: “I am more than the sum of my parts!”
Healthcare must be timely, customised, and comprehensive. Holistic care, by definition, necessitates coordination and collaboration among multiple healthcare providers. To be effective, rehabilitation must include the patient as a team member.
Healthcare is easily accessible, with few referrals and nearly no wait times; this makes collaborative care much easier in India! Investigations and test work, specialised consultations, and alternative medicines can all be obtained and implemented quickly. The sole drawback to an otherwise efficient system appears to be the large number of out-of-pocket payments.
The Canadian healthcare system, despite being publicly supported, suffers from inefficiencies such as extremely long wait times and a doctor shortage. Even though collaborative care principles have been clearly stated, timely access to specialist consultations, investigations, and surgery remains elusive.
National healthcare policies have a direct impact on citizens of that country, particularly healthcare professionals. The conscientious healthcare professional understands that he must deliver the best possible care to patients within the framework of national systems. In addition to treatment, these policies have an impact on rehabilitation outcomes. A comparison of countries may encourage an exchange of ideas and a crossover of best practices at the personal level!
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