HS 3400 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS (GRADED A+)
Why study health policy? - ANSWER-You realize something is wrong with the
healthcare system and want to change it
Health policy examples - ANSWER-Legalization of recreational cannabis, pharmacare,
mandatory vaccination, aboriginal health
Policy Processes and Policy-Making examples - ANSWER-How are laws introduced
and passed? How do policies change? How is health governed?
Policy - ANSWER-Broad statement of goals, objectives and means that create the
framework for activity. Often takes the form of explicit written documents, but may also
be implicit or unwritten; decisions taken by those with responsibility for a given policy
area
Public Policy - ANSWER-Courses of action or inaction chosen by public authorities to
address a given problem; anything a government chooses to do or not to do
Health Policy - ANSWER-Courses of action (and inaction) that affect the set of
institutions, organizations, services and funding arrangements of the health and health
care system; policies that have to do with health, created by health agencies
organizations; can be both public and private
Healthy Public Policy - ANSWER-Public policies (i.e., policies outside of the health
sector) characterized by an explicit concern for health and equity in all areas of policy
and by an accountability for health impact
Program - ANSWER-Activity that organizes or delivers a service or goods to achieve a
policy's objectives
Politics - ANSWER-The art or science concerned with guiding or influencing
governmental policy
Laws - ANSWER-Enact public policy
Constitutional Act, 1867 - ANSWER-- Law passed by the British parliament that created
Canada, founded on Indigenous lands
- Specifies the responsibilities of the national (federal) government and the provinces
and territories
, Federalism - ANSWER-Divides authority among levels of government, and intentionally
restricts the powers of the central government
Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) - ANSWER-Government-run health insurance
plan for Ontario
Canada Health Act (1984) - ANSWER-In order for provinces and territories to receive
full cash and tax transfers from the federal government to fund health care, they must
comply with the terms of the Canada Health Act
Five conditions of Canada Health Act - ANSWER-Comprehensiveness
Universality
Accessibility
Portability
Public Administration
Politics Stream - ANSWER-Political events such as shifts in the national mood or public
opinion, elections and changes in government, social uprisings, demonstrations and
campaigns by interest groups
Power and the Policy Agenda - ANSWER-There are many variables that influence a
person pushing or not for an issue to be on the agenda: ex. Financial Influence
US "Global Gag Rule" Policy - ANSWER-Foreign organizations receiving U.S. family
planning assistance funds are prohibited from using their own funds to provide
information, referrals, or services for legal abortion, or advocate for the legalization of
abortion in their country
Cannabis Legal History in Canada - ANSWER-Criminally prohibited since 1923
Medical cannabis first legalized in 2001
Failed decriminalization (2003,2004)
Anti-drug strategy (2007)
Attempts at mandatory minimums (2009)
Increased role of private sector? - ANSWER-Raises questions: If Canada allows more
two-tier health care, would wait times improve? Would this create inequities b/w the
public/ private systems; those who can and cannot pay?
Policy Agenda - ANSWER-List of issues to which an organization, usually the
government, is giving serious attention at any one time with a view to taking some sort
of action
Comprehensiveness - ANSWER-Provincial insurance plans must insure (i.e., cover) all
"insured health services" provided by physicians or within hospitals
AND ANSWERS (GRADED A+)
Why study health policy? - ANSWER-You realize something is wrong with the
healthcare system and want to change it
Health policy examples - ANSWER-Legalization of recreational cannabis, pharmacare,
mandatory vaccination, aboriginal health
Policy Processes and Policy-Making examples - ANSWER-How are laws introduced
and passed? How do policies change? How is health governed?
Policy - ANSWER-Broad statement of goals, objectives and means that create the
framework for activity. Often takes the form of explicit written documents, but may also
be implicit or unwritten; decisions taken by those with responsibility for a given policy
area
Public Policy - ANSWER-Courses of action or inaction chosen by public authorities to
address a given problem; anything a government chooses to do or not to do
Health Policy - ANSWER-Courses of action (and inaction) that affect the set of
institutions, organizations, services and funding arrangements of the health and health
care system; policies that have to do with health, created by health agencies
organizations; can be both public and private
Healthy Public Policy - ANSWER-Public policies (i.e., policies outside of the health
sector) characterized by an explicit concern for health and equity in all areas of policy
and by an accountability for health impact
Program - ANSWER-Activity that organizes or delivers a service or goods to achieve a
policy's objectives
Politics - ANSWER-The art or science concerned with guiding or influencing
governmental policy
Laws - ANSWER-Enact public policy
Constitutional Act, 1867 - ANSWER-- Law passed by the British parliament that created
Canada, founded on Indigenous lands
- Specifies the responsibilities of the national (federal) government and the provinces
and territories
, Federalism - ANSWER-Divides authority among levels of government, and intentionally
restricts the powers of the central government
Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) - ANSWER-Government-run health insurance
plan for Ontario
Canada Health Act (1984) - ANSWER-In order for provinces and territories to receive
full cash and tax transfers from the federal government to fund health care, they must
comply with the terms of the Canada Health Act
Five conditions of Canada Health Act - ANSWER-Comprehensiveness
Universality
Accessibility
Portability
Public Administration
Politics Stream - ANSWER-Political events such as shifts in the national mood or public
opinion, elections and changes in government, social uprisings, demonstrations and
campaigns by interest groups
Power and the Policy Agenda - ANSWER-There are many variables that influence a
person pushing or not for an issue to be on the agenda: ex. Financial Influence
US "Global Gag Rule" Policy - ANSWER-Foreign organizations receiving U.S. family
planning assistance funds are prohibited from using their own funds to provide
information, referrals, or services for legal abortion, or advocate for the legalization of
abortion in their country
Cannabis Legal History in Canada - ANSWER-Criminally prohibited since 1923
Medical cannabis first legalized in 2001
Failed decriminalization (2003,2004)
Anti-drug strategy (2007)
Attempts at mandatory minimums (2009)
Increased role of private sector? - ANSWER-Raises questions: If Canada allows more
two-tier health care, would wait times improve? Would this create inequities b/w the
public/ private systems; those who can and cannot pay?
Policy Agenda - ANSWER-List of issues to which an organization, usually the
government, is giving serious attention at any one time with a view to taking some sort
of action
Comprehensiveness - ANSWER-Provincial insurance plans must insure (i.e., cover) all
"insured health services" provided by physicians or within hospitals
