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Effect of provincial spending on social services and health care on health outcomes in Canada: an observational longitudinal study
- Source :
- CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal. January 22, 2018, Vol. 190 Issue 3, pE66, 6 p.
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- BACKGROUND: Escalating health care spending is a concern in Western countries, given the lack of evidence of a direct connection between spending and improvements in health. We aimed to determine the association between spending on health care and social programs and health outcomes in Canada. METHODS: We used retrospective data from Canadian provincial expenditure reports, for the period 1981 to 2011, to model the effects of social and health spending (as a ratio, social/health) on potentially avoidable mortality, infant mortality and life expectancy. We used linear regressions, accounting for provincial fixed effects and time, and controlling for confounding variables at the provincial level. RESULTS: A 1-cent increase in social spending per dollar spent on health was associated with a 0.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04% to 0.16%) decrease in potentially avoidable mortality and a 0.01% (95% CI 0.01% to 0.02%) increase in life expectancy. The ratio had a statistically nonsignificant relationship with infant mortality (p = 0.2). INTERPRETATION: Population-level health outcomes could benefit from a reallocation of government dollars from health to social spending, even if total government spending were left unchanged. This result is consistent with other findings from Canada and the United States.<br />The need to lower health care costs is recognized by public and private payers in most developed countries, including Canada. (1) As noted in a recent report from the Organisation [...]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 08203946
- Volume :
- 190
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Gale General OneFile
- Journal :
- CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal
- Publication Type :
- Periodical
- Accession number :
- edsgcl.524181072
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.170132