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Barriers to timely medication access in Canada: Implications for healthcare policy
, Pages: 1-4 Hasti Bagherzadi |
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Abstract: During the past few years, rapid access to medication has been important for having effective healthcare delivery, nevertheless Canadian patients encounter growing delays in getting treatment. In 2024, patients had to wait for an average of 30 weeks from referral by a general practitioner to actual treatment, which was the worst ever recorded—up from 27.7 weeks in 2023 and 222% longer than the 9.3-week benchmark in 1993. These delays are aggravated by diagnostic bottlenecks, with wait times of 16.2 weeks for MRI scans and 8.1 weeks for CT scans. Such prolonged intervals are more than clinically acceptable thresholds and risk compromising patient outcomes. This paper investigates systemic barriers—including specialist shortages, infrastructure limitations, and regional disparities—and evaluates their applications for healthcare policy. By identifying key inefficiencies, the investigation plans to inform evidence-based reforms that enhance medication access and equity across Canada. DOI: 10.5267/j.he.2025.1.001 Keywords: Barriers, Medication access, Canada, Healthcare, Policy |
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Measuring the relative efficiency of MRI/CT unit in Canada: Implications for healthcare policy
, Pages: 5-8 Hasti Bagherzadi |
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Abstract: During the past few years, many patients must wait for a long period of time to receive MRI/CT medication. This paper presents an empirical method to measure the relative efficiency of MRI/CT medications using the popular method of data envelopment analysis. The proposed method of this paper uses two inputs; the number of employees and the number of MRI or CT devises used and considers the number of patients received medications as the output. The results indicate that Alberta was the most efficient province according to all four DEA techniques. However, the study did not find strong evidence to claim low efficiencies in nearly all provinces. DOI: 10.5267/j.he.2025.1.002 Keywords: DEA, Data Envelopment Analysis, Canada, Healthcare, Efficiency, MRI, CT |
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Provincial analysis of relative efficiency in Canadian hospitals using DEA
, Pages: 9-12 Reza Ghaeli |
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Abstract: Studying the efficiency of hospitals in Canada is very important for optimizing resource allocation and assuring equitable access to high-quality care in different provinces in Can-ada. The analysis could reveal issues in identifying best practices and areas of inefficiency, thereby informing policy decisions and shaping investment strategies. In this paper, we present a four data envelopment analysis methods, namely, CCR, BCC Input Oriented, BCC Output Oriented and Additive to measure the relative efficiency of 10 provinces in terms of offering different services including Discharges, Surgeries and Diagnostic Exams for their patients. The proposed study has implemented DEA technique and using three inputs, Beds in Operations, Hospital Staff (FTE) and Operating Expenses, and outputs, Dis-charges, Surgeries and Diagnostic Exams, measures the relative efficiencies for 10 provinces. The study also uses four DEA techniques for measuring the relative efficiencies of hospitals. The implementation of CCR for all four models yields lower scores compared with other methods. Overall, the method confirms that most hospitals across the country perform relatively well. DOI: 10.5267/j.he.2025.1.003 Keywords: DEA, Data Envelopment Analysis, Canada, Healthcare, Efficiency, Hospitals |
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Evaluating primary care efficiency across Canadian provinces: A DEA-based approach
, Pages: 13-16 Ahmad Makui |
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Abstract: This study evaluates the relative efficiency of primary care systems across Canadian provinces using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Employing four DEA models—CCR, BCC input-oriented, BCC output-oriented, and additive—we assess performance based on three key inputs: average clinical payment per physician, physician density, and digital care uptake. The single output considered is average annual patient visits per adult, reflecting service utilization. Results reveal significant variation in efficiency scores across models, with the CCR method yielding lower scores due to its constant returns to scale assumption. In contrast, BCC and additive models identify more provinces as efficient, highlighting the impact of scale flexibility. Notably, Ontario and Nova Scotia consistently demonstrate high efficiency across all models, suggesting effective resource utilization and strong patient engagement. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to optimize primary care delivery and support evidence-based resource allocation in Canada’s healthcare system. DOI: 10.5267/j.he.2025.1.004 Keywords: DEA, Data Envelopment Analysis, Canada, Healthcare, Efficiency, Physicians |
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Benchmarking rehabilitation efficiency across Canadian provinces: A DEA-based analysis of throughput and budget allocation
, Pages: 17-20 Rouzbeh Ghousi |
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Abstract: Therapeutic recovery services are considered essential towards restoration of functional independence and the quality of life across Canada. Greater needs and constraining opportunities have begun emphasizing assessing the relative efficiency of all rehabilitation centers to help with evidence-based policy and funding decisions. Thus, this article subject’s throughput, functional outcome, and budget allocations for ten Canadian provinces to analysis using DEA to provide a comparative look at service delivery and resource utilization. The results disclose that Prince Edward Island demonstrates the highest efficiency in utilizing rehabilitation budgets, followed closely by Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Alberta. These provinces provide strong throughput and functional gains in spite of modest funding levels. In contrast, Quebec shows lower relative efficiency, suggesting potential gaps in resource deployment or care coordination. These results underscore the relevant importance of strategic investment and outcome-driven planning in rehabilitation policy, giving actionable insights for provincial health authorities and national benchmarking efforts. DOI: 10.5267/j.he.2025.1.005 Keywords: DEA, Data Envelopment Analysis, Canada, Healthcare, Efficiency, Rehabilitation, Throughput, Budget allocation | |
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Benchmarking rehabilitation efficiency across Canadian provinces: An implementation of TOPSIS analysis of throughput and budget allocation
, Pages: 21-24 Sepideh Sadat Sadjadi |
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Abstract: Therapeutic medications are the primary concern for restoration of functional independence and the quality of Canadian’s lives across the country. Bigger requirements and limiting opportunities have begun pushing on assessing the relative efficiency of all rehabilitation centers to find with evidence-based policy and funding decisions. Thus, this primary objective of this paper is to consider throughput, functional outcome, and budget allocations for ten Canadian provinces to measure the relative efficiency using Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method to provide a comparative view at service delivery and resource utilization. According to our results, when we consider equal weights for three factors, Manitoba is ranked first followed by Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. When we increase the weight of the budget in our method, these provinces still perform better than other provinces. Even when we reduce the weights of the budget, these provinces demonstrate good performance. Surprisingly, Ontario has presented the worst performance compared with other provinces. DOI: 10.5267/j.he.2025.1.006 Keywords: TOPSIS, Weight, Canada, Healthcare, Efficiency, Rehabilitation, Throughput, Budget allocation | |
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