Canada has a publicly funded universal healthcare system called Medicare. Each province and territory manages its own healthcare insurance plan. The system is funded through taxes, with the federal, provincial and territorial governments contributing. It provides universal access to medically necessary hospital and physician services without direct user fees. While most services are publicly funded, around 30% of healthcare costs are paid through private means like private insurance. There are ongoing debates around wait times, doctor shortages, rising costs and the potential role of private options in addressing some of these issues.