Canadian Healthcare Facts Every International Medical Graduate Should Know in 2026
Canada operates a publicly funded, provincially administered healthcare system that guarantees medically necessary hospital and physician services to all residents at no direct cost at the point of care. This single-payer model, established under the Canada Health Act of 1984, differs fundamentally from the insurance-based or private systems in many countries where international medical graduates (IMGs) have trained. Understanding these structural differences isn’t just academic background. It directly shapes how you’ll practice medicine, how patients access your services, and what administrative realities you’ll navigate…