Medicare's Histories: Origins, Omissions, and Opportunities in Canada

Medicare is Canada's most valued social program, and Medicares Histories explores its origins, evolution, and missed opportunities to achieve greater health equity. Contributors investigate the strengths and weaknesses of publicly insured health care and the role of communities in driving demands for reform. The book shows how Medicare has been shaped by politics, identities, professional organizations, and social movements in Canada and abroad, and highlights what was excluded and what is possible in health care.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 27 May 2022
Publisher: University of Manitoba Press

Medicare is widely regarded as one of Canada's most cherished social programs. As federally-supported Medicare embarks on its second half-century, Medicares Histories brings together esteemed social and health historians to contemplate the origins and trajectory of Medicare, as well as the missed opportunities that have characterized its past and present. By integrating Medicare into the diverse constituencies that have shaped its existence and significance, contributors delve into the strengths and weaknesses of publicly insured health care and critically assess Medicare's unfinished journey in achieving greater health equity for all individuals in Canada, irrespective of race, status, gender, class, age, and ability. At the core of the narratives presented in Medicares Histories lies the indispensable role played by communities—including activists, critics, health professionals, First Nations, patients, families, and survivors—in driving demands for health reform, identifying specific omissions and inequities exacerbated or even created by Medicare, and responding to the realities of Medicare for those who work within and rely on it. Contributors to this volume illustrate how Medicare has been shaped by politics, identities, professional organizations, and social movements in Canada and abroad.

In the wake of COVID, which has exposed profound social disparities and the inadequacies of healthcare delivery and public health, this book serves as a testament to what was excluded and what remains possible in the realm of healthcare. It sheds light on the gaps and barriers that have hindered progress and offers insights into the transformative potential of healthcare reform. By examining the historical and contemporary experiences of Medicare, Medicares Histories contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities and challenges facing the healthcare system and provides valuable lessons for building a more equitable and inclusive future.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780887552809