How to make health care better in Canada? We asked 5 experts

Global News spoke with five experts to break down the biggest issues in health care today and what federal leaders can do to address them.

A federal election campaign is underway for Canadians and as they prepare to head to the polls on April 28, health care is top of mind for many.

From the state of federal programs like dental and pharmacare to reducing hospital wait times, improving access to family doctors and fighting health misinformation, voters are looking to federal leaders for solutions to strengthen Canada’s health-care system.

Health care is mostly run by provinces and territories, but the federal government still has a big role to play. This includes funding and investments in doctors and nurses, explained Dr. Joss Reimer, president of the Canadian Medical Association.

As the election approaches, Canada faces looming threats to its sovereignty and economy. Reimer pointed out that these economic threats are a concern not only for the financial system but also for the health-care system.

“While there’s this major threat to the income of Canadians, to the economy of Canadians, that also is a threat to health because we know that income is the number one determinant of health,” she told Global News.

“And the federal government has large roles to play in the health-care system, even though it is largely a provincial jurisdiction, because they are the largest funder of health care, and they also run several health-care systems of their own.”

She emphasized the importance of keeping health at the forefront of the election in the coming weeks and hopes to see key issues talked about by the political candidates.

So, what exactly can the federal government do to help?