...

How Private Hospital Competition Can Improve Canadian Health Care

Printer-friendly version

The Alberta proposal raises three issues. First, do for-profit hospitals perform better than non-profit ones? Second, do private hospitals (either for-profit or non-profit) perform better than government-run (public) ones? Third, does intensified competition among hospitals enhance or reduce medical care? Each of these issues has been extensively studied by economists and health policy analysts.In a forthcoming bill (February 2000), the Alberta government has proposed permitting the provision of surgical services by private hospitals. Will this proposal improve health care delivery? A thorough review of the medical economics literature indicates that it will.

The Alberta proposal raises three issues. First, do for-profit hospitals perform better than non-profit ones? Second, do private hospitals (either for-profit or non-profit) perform better than government-run (public) ones? Third, does intensified competition among hospitals enhance or reduce medical care? Each of these issues has been extensively studied by economists and health policy analysts.


More from this study

Subscribe to the Fraser Institute

Get the latest news from the Fraser Institute on the latest research studies, news and events.