How do we tell when a society is successful? A healthy life expectancy

While healthy life expectancy is improving, the length of time spent in failing health is not, which means 'years of costly care and treatment of illness and disability.'

Narrowing that gap while working to improve healthy life expectancy and reducing the time spent in diminished and frail health in the final years of life should be key goals of policy. The mandate letters for Health Minister Patty Hajdu and Seniors Minister Deb Schulte don't really address these issues, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY DAVID CRANE

February 3, 2020

TORONTO—How do we tell when a society is successful? Economists like rising per capita output as the marker for a successful society. But a much better marker is the level of healthy life expectancy because it reflects a much broader range of things that make life worth living. Healthy life expec...

To keep reading, subscribe and become a political insider.

Only $7.76 a week for an annual subscription.

Enjoy unlimited website access and the digital newspaper.

Cancel anytime.

Already a Subscriber?

Get Weekend Point of View Newsletter

A round up of the past weekâ€™s opinion writers and columnists on Saturdays and Sundays.

By entering your email address you consent to receive email from The Hill Times containing news, analysis, updates and offers. You may unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy