What are the five principles of the Canada Health Act?

• A. Publicly Administered: run by government, no profit; Comprehensive: care provided by hospitals, physicians, surgeons; Universal: available to everyone; Portable: available everywhere in Canada; Accessible: available within reasonable time and distance.
• B. Publicly Administered; Comprehensive; Universal; Portable; Accessible; funded privately.
• C. Publicly Administered; Comprehensive; Universal; Portable; Accessible; but only within provincial borders.
• D. Publicly Administered; Comprehensive; Universal; Portable; Accessible; but require private insurance.

Answer: (A)

These five principles outline how insured health services in Canada are provided. Publicly administered means the health plan is run on a non-profit basis by a public authority that is accountable to the provincial or territorial government; this ensures government oversight rather than private profit in the delivery of insured services. Comprehensive means medically necessary hospital and physician services are covered, so the essential care people need is included. Universal means every resident has access to these insured services on uniform terms, so eligibility doesn’t depend on income or status. Portable means coverage is available across provinces and territories, so moving or traveling within Canada doesn’t disrupt access to insured care. Accessible means people can obtain insured services with reasonable promptness and without financial or major discriminatory barriers.

The other options try to add private funding, limit portability to provincial borders, or require private insurance, which would undermine the public, universal, and accessible nature of the program.