Turning the tide on demand for health care

A demand-side approach puts patients at the centre of health care, and new considerations — of appropriateness, shared decision making and information — take on greater importance and offer a road to ensuring a long-term sustainability of the system. [...] Drivers of Demand Demand for health care in Canada is on the rise; understanding the factors that drive the demand is a crucial part of managing it. [...] Science and Technology Science and technology are important drivers of health spending and outcomes in Canada and a central component of policy debates on access and costs. [...] The combination of proteomics and genomics will have significant impact on the development of the diagnostic and therapeutic products of the future (Robson, 2004). [...] Diet management to control the individual’s weight during childhood can lead to normal life expectancy and better health and function, saving the health care system money and the individual suffering.