With just 2.6 physicians per thousand people in 2017, Canada ranked 26th out of 28 universal health-care systems.
doctor shortage
France spends slightly less (as a percentage of GDP) on health care than Canada, and has a higher number of physicians and hospital beds, and lower wait times.
Economic theory and common sense tell us that financial incentives influence peoples behavior. This is as true for the local barber as it is for doctors. Although some may believe in the romantic fallacy that doctors are altruistic actors, or bound to act in favor of their patients by the Hippocratic Oath, empirical evidence shows us that they too, are influenced by money.
When stacked up against countries with similar health care goals, namely universal coverage, it quickly becomes apparent that Canada's health care system is not worth emulating. While we're a top spender, we have among the longest waiting lists, low levels of medical technologies and perhaps the problem that hits closest to home, a short supply of doctors.