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KCE reports vol. 40 APPENDICES Physiotherapy 9
2. CANADA, PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
2.1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM
2.1.1. Existing Coverage Schemes
Under the 1984 Canada Health Act all eligible Canadian residents should have access to universal,
comprehensive coverage for medically necessary hospital and physician services through the Medicare
program. Additional benefit schemes exist in various provinces covering expenses outside of
Medicare: prescription drug coverage, dental and vision care, etc.
Private (complementary) insurances schemes are mostly employment-based.
2.1.2. Institutional Framework
Three levels of government are active in public health: federal government, provincial and territorial
governments, municipal governments.
The primary role of the federal government is to establish and administer uniform national principles
for health care and to assist provincial/territorial health care by means of fiscal transfers.
The provincial government is the main regulator and provider of health care. Most of the health care
financing comes from provincial funds.
2.1.3. Health Care Delivery
Delivery of health care services varies strongly from province to province. Provincial health care
services include primary health care services by doctors, nurses and other health professionals as well
as care in hospital.
In 2004 Canadians spent CAD 130 billion on health care; 70% of which through the public sector.
2.2. PHYSIOTHERAPIST PROFESSION
2.2.1. Minimal Entry Requirements
Throughout Canada a minimum of four years of post-secondary education (BSc) is required for newly
graduated physiotherapists wishing to practice. From 2010 onward 6 years of post-secondary
education (MSc) will be mandatory.
Posterior to graduation aspiring physiotherapists should successfully complete the Physiotherapy
Competency Examination (PCE) in order to work in all Canadian provinces, barring the provinces of
New Brunswick and Quebec.
The PCE is organised by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators and intended to
determine whether candidates have the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviour needed to enter
the physiotherapy profession in Canada . A striking feature of the PCE is the practical component
(treatment of actor-patients) it contains.
Finally, physiotherapists are required to register with a provincial licensing authority as a condition of
practice.
2.2.2. Number of physiotherapists
In 2004 15.607 registered physiotherapists were active in Canada, including 5.494 practitioners in the
province of Ontario. That same year 631 new Bachelors in physiotherapy graduated from Canadian
universities (1).