The hospital landscape in Canada
There were approximately 15 general hospitals per million population in Canada. The rate of general hospitals in Canada was slightly higher than for U.S. hospitals, yet lower than many other OECD countries. In 2018, there were 708 publicly owned hospitals in Canada, whereas there were only seven for-profit hospitals privately owned in the country. The rate of publicly funded hospitals in Canada was therefore much higher than the rate of for-profit private hospitals. In 2019, most Canadian hospitals were non-employer, meaning that these hospitals have no (or an indeterminate) quantity of employees. From a regional perspective, most Canadian hospitals are situated in Ontario, followed by Quebec. Unsurprisingly, these two Canadian regions have, by far, the highest populations.Canadian hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic
The coronavirus continues to challenge health systems across Canada. In 2020, the intensive care bed density in Canada was a third of the comparative figure found in Germany and half of the one found in the U.S. The rate of hospital beds in Canada was nearly half of the OECD country’s average in 2019. Furthermore, Canada has a high curative hospital bed occupancy, while the average length of stay for curative care in Canadian hospitals was below the OECD average. High occupancy rates may be a sign that a health system is under pressure and that there may be a risk of bed shortages and higher rates of infection. Nonetheless, canceled surgeries resulted in fewer hospital admissions in Canada. For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.
