Sweden and Canada spend similar amounts on universal health care, but Sweden consistently outperforms Canada

VANCOUVER—Canada and Sweden both spend similar amounts on their respective universal health-care systems, but Sweden’s system consistently outperforms Canada’s on key health care performance metrics, according to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“Canadians are increasingly aware that their health-care systems are failing them, but they may not know that there are countries out there—like Sweden—that provide universal health care better,” said Yanick Labrie, Fraser Institute senior fellow and author of Beyond the Public-Private Divide: What Sweden Can Teach Canada About Health Care Reform.

The study shows that in 2025, Canada’s universal health-care system cost 11.6 per cent as a share of the economy (GDP). Sweden’s universal health-care system was 11.1 per cent of GDP, so just slightly less.

But even though the systems cost similar amounts, Sweden outperforms Canada on several key measures related to wait times and access to doctors:

• Hip replacement wait times: The median wait for hip replacement surgery in Canada is 125 days, whereas it’s only 80 days in Sweden—more than a month shorter.
• Knee replacement wait times: The median wait for knee replacement surgery in Canada is 151 days, whereas it’s only 111 days in Sweden—again, more than a month shorter.
• Number of doctors: Sweden has nearly twice the number of doctors (per 1,000 people) at 4.4, compared to Canada’s 2.8.

Crucially, unlike Canada, Sweden permits private health insurance within its universal system, patients pay small fees when using a hospital and physician services, which helps to discourage unnecessary use, and allows the private sector to provide medical services within the public system including acute-care hospital services. In fact, private providers now perform more than 40 per cent of publicly funded hip and knee replacements and over 70 per cent of cataract procedures in Sweden.

“As Canadians are confronted with the reality that our health-care system needs to be reformed, Sweden offers an interesting example of how a universal health-care system can cost a similar amount, but provide a much better service to patients,” Labrie said.

Media Contact:
Yanick Labrie, Senior Fellow
Fraser Institute

To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact:
Erin Clemens, Fraser Institute
604-688-0221 ext.615
erin.clemens@fraserinstitute.org