Psychotherapy under National Health Insurance: ten years of Canadian experience.

Canadian psychiatrists have worked under National Health Insurance since 1969-1970. The removal of the economic barrier to treatment has produced a system under which practitioners can rationally prescribe treatment for all socioeconomic groups. In particular, long-term psychotherapy is now open, in principle, to all who can benefit from it. Comprehensive coverage of psychiatric care makes clinical sense, but leaves the physician with a serious social responsibility in determining the profile of his practice.