Although innovation in health care is often equated with technology, it is in fact a change that may refer to products and/or processes (OECD, 2005). An innovation may be radical (e.g., the discovery of x-rays) or incremental (e.g., the refinement of computed tomography scanners). It may emerge from the private or the public sector, or from an alliance between the two. It may have been designed by experts such as engineers and scientists, or by non-technical end-users (e.g., physicians, patients, disabled persons).

Le développement d’une nouvelle technologie requiert du temps, de l’énergie et des investissements importants. Plusieurs années et plusieurs millions de dollars y seront engloutis. L’aventure est également risquée puisqu’à tout moment, le développement de l’innovation peut échouer.

When thinking about the social and political implications of health innovations, one cannot assume that they solely materialize around technology or after its implementation. Rather, they are part of a given innovation. There is indeed no technology without sociopolitical properties, since both its existence and use require the support of social groups who invest financial and human resources and engage into power relations.

The Canadian healthcare system struggles with long waiting times for some treatments. Many suggestions on how to remedy this problem have been made to decision makers.

One is the introduction of a private healthcare system alongside the public one. Some argue that this would free up places on waiting lists. Is a mixed-payer healthcare system the best way to reduce waiting times?