The U.S. ranks as the worst performer among 10 developed nations in critical areas of health care, including preventing deaths, access (mainly because of high cost) and guaranteeing quality treatment for everyone, regardless of gender, income or geographic location, according to the report, published Thursday by The Commonwealth Fund, an independent research group.

Based on the new findings, people in the U.S. die the youngest and experience the most avoidable deaths, even though the country spends nearly twice as much — about 18% of gross domestic product — on health care than any other nation ranked.

Surveys indicate that health care is among the top priorities for voters in the November presidential election. Vice President Kamala Harris has pitched building on the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. Former President Donald Trump has given little detail about his health care vision; his running mate, JD Vance, has suggested deregulation.

Thursday’s findings show, the researchers say, that the U.S. spends the most but gets the least from its investment.

Transferring hospitals to a religious facility operator would also create issues around access to forms of care it does not permit to be performed, Hardcastle said.

Covenant does not allow staff to provide emergency contraceptives, abortion, medical assistance in dying, and other medical procedures.

Metz said the province’s ongoing health care changes have resulted in budget cuts for AHS that impact the services it needs to provide, while more money is going to restructuring and consultants. The government are the ones “dictating what AHS can do . . . they’re putting all the blame on AHS when, in fact, they’re the ones pulling the puppet strings,” she said.

Talk of changing hospital operators risks adding “another layer of instability” that would make attracting doctors and nurses more difficult and indicates plans for further privatization of the public health system, Metz said.