Canadians today tend to take universal health care for granted.

But back in 1962, medicare seemed like a pipe dream.

That year, doctors launched a strike against the introduction of medicare in Saskatchewan. The majority of the public initially supported doctors in their fight against ‘socialized medicine.’

Had the Saskatchewan doctors won, the accessibility of Canada’s health care system might have been very different today.

View this National Film Board video about the history of medicare and the role Tommy Douglas had in making it a reality.

The February-March 2014 issue of Canada’s History includes a story by Christopher Moore which explores what could have happened — a Canada without medicare — had doctors won the 1962 strike. The issue is available on newsstands or you can subscribe online by clicking on Subscribe at the top of this page.