Most of the advanced countries of the world offer good healthcare facilities to their residents. If you are a resident of Ontario, Canada, it is mandatory for you to have a health card. However, in order to acquire the facilities of health care, he or she has to have a health card. The healthcare facilities are provided by the OHIP. There are many facilities provided by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in Ontario. However, these facilities will not include cosmetic surgery but only medical treatments as required by a patient. The Ontario Public Health Care System takes care of the residents of Ontario and their health care needs. In fact, most of the health care benefits are included in the benefits. The province or the area where you visit the health care centre will bill the Ministry of Health. This bill will include the cost of hospitalization, doctor’s fees and other such costs. If you are living in Quebec, it is possible that you will have to fit the bill of the physician’s fees and then claim it from your local office.

In order to be eligible for claiming the health insurance coverage you have to fulfill the following requirements:

• You must be a citizen ofCanadaor a permanent resident or else you must belong to the group of newcomers who fall in the eligible category for OHIP.
• You must be living inOntariofor a period of at least 153 days in any year
• You must be living inOntariofor at least 153 days out of the first 183 days just after you have established your residency.
• You must make the primary place of residence asOntario.

The insurance cover under the OHIP usually comes into effect within three months from the date that you establish your residency in the provinceof Ontario. The Ontario Public Health Care System encourages more and more new residents to buy health insurance policies for people who may require medical attention during the waiting period until they are eligible under the OHIP.

The health ministry takes responsibility for delivering health care to the residents of Ontario, Canada. They have various programs like the health insurance, assistive devices, drug benefits, and special care for the mentally ill patients, home care, community health, public health, long-term care, disease prevention programs, and health promotion programs and so on. In addition to this, the Ontario Public Health Care System also keeps a watch on the hospitals and other health institutions and their workings, various medical laboratories. It also co-ordinates emergency services in respect of health care.

The major responsibilities of the Ontario Public Health Care System are:

• Health Advisories and various guidelines for Travel Health
• Addictions and de addictions
• Children’s Health
• Health Care Professionals: Regulation
• HIV and AIDS
• Mental Health care
• Health Insurance benefits for Ontario residents
• Assistance in respect of Hepatitis C
• Donation of Organs and Tissues
• Help for Senior citizens: At home, in the community and in the residential areas.