CHPI suggests governments look to administrative waste to rein in healthcare spending

A report (available for purchase) by the Canadian Health Policy Institute estimates billions of dollars are wasted every year by governments on non-medical expenses that offer no material benefit to patients. The institute contends that public providers should spend more effort to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare administration. Instead, the CHPI states, the cost-containment focus is on aspects of health that have direct impacts on outcomes, such as access to pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics, the number of practicing physicians, physician fees and hospital operating budgets.