Canadian soldiers will soon receive treatment from private doctors, thanks to a deal the Department of National Defence (DND) has struck with Calian Technologies Ltd.

Over the next five years the government will pay more than $400 million to Calian in exchange for various skilled professionals, like laboratory technicians. They will also get doctors to fill in for the army's medical staff as needed.

Michael McBane of the Canadian Health Coalition finds the government's actions hypocritical.

"They're the guardian of public health care in Canada, and yet when it comes to delivering service in their own jurisdiction they're privatizing," he told CTV's David Akin.

The RCMP is spending $250 million on health-care, with some of that money going to private clinics. Corrections Canada also spends some of its budget on private health care.

This makes the government the largest purchaser of private health care services in the country.

Defence Minister Bill Graham defended his department's spending, arguing Canada's health services are insufficient for the military.

"For a long time we had our own health services which covered everything," he told Akin. "Now we are unable to do that and we find it more efficient to go outside."

Akin reports that soldiers can receive MRIs within days, while other Canadians must often wait for months.

Conservative Health Critic Steven Fletcher wants a national debate on fixing health care, and argues the Liberals "mislead the public" by vocally opposing privatization.

"They use myths, and they use fear and deceit, to prop up their point," he said. "And it's time Canadians say, 'Enough is enough.'"

According to Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, Canada has always allowed certain groups to have private health care to alleviate stress on the provinces.

"You know, right from the inception of public health care in Canada there have been exemptions for the Canadian Forces, Workers' Compensation Board, the RCMP," he said.

Dosanjh sees no reason for this to stop.

"There was a decision made on a rational basis at that time. I don't believe anything has changed in terms of the rationale for that."

Canada's health care has come under increasing scrutiny since the Supreme Court said bans on private care violated the Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Critics argue that if the government is unable to care for patients, those patients have a right to seek care through other means.

The government's contract with Calian could be extended to 10 years, possibly earning Calian an additional $480 million.

With a report from CTV's David Akin