Why Canada Should Look to Australia for Health-System Fixes

Canadian provinces are struggling with affordability, access and equity as populations age and demand rises. This episode compares Canada’s provincial systems with Australia’s states, highlighting Australia’s stronger performance on equity and health outcomes and examining how private insurance operates alongside public medicare. The authors call for low‑cost, high‑impact collaboration: federal‑led comparative analyses, data sharing, personnel exchanges and joint research to identify adaptable policies and practices that improve primary care access, reduce fragmentation and address inequities in both countries. Healthcare Policy, Volume 20, Issue 4, August 2025 Authors:  Michael Pervan, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority, Sydney, Australia Jason M. Sutherland, Phd, Editor-in-Chief, Director, Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC This podcast was created using an AI generated voice.