Annual Conference of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Health

Banff, September 5, 2002 -- At their annual meeting this week, Canada’s Health Ministers marked progress and discussed challenges in their mutual efforts to improve publicly funded health care and ensure it continues to meet Canada’s needs now and in the future. Two years ago, Canada’s First Ministers committed to strengthening and renewing Canada’s publicly funded health care through partnership and collaboration.

Federal Minister of Health Anne McLellan and Alberta Health and Wellness Minister Gary Mar co-chaired the meeting, which they described as successful and forward-looking.

Common Drug Review*
In 2001, Health Ministers agreed to pursue a common process for assessing new drugs. Today, Health Ministers announced the establishment of a single, common drug review to be housed at the Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment (CCOHTA). CCOHTA will begin reviews early in the new year. This will streamline the drug assessment and drug plan listing processes.

Accountability
In 2000, First Ministers agreed to build on existing accountability mechanisms through regular, comprehensive and public reporting by each government on the performance of their health system. Health Ministers today announced that each jurisdiction will release its first report by September 30, using jointly agreed upon comparable indicators of health status, health outcomes and quality of health care services. Examples include waiting times for cardiac surgery and radiation therapy for breast and prostate cancer, access to routine health services, and incidence rates for diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV.

Health Human Resources*
Ministers discussed the key role of health providers, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other health professionals.

Nursing*
Ministers recognize the important contribution of Canada’s nurses. Since 2000, Health Ministers have been taking action on the Nursing Strategy for Canada, a federal-provincial-territorial plan that addresses challenges in the nursing workforce. This strategy continues to be a priority. Among the achievements are better health human resource planning, a 40 per cent increase in spaces nationwide for students in nursing programs, and innovative ways to retain nurses. As well, health ministries are reviewing the recently released report of the Canadian Nursing Advisory Committee, and analysing its recommendations.

Healthy Living*
Beyond considering current needs in health care, Health Ministers also focused on the future.
One key to effective, affordable and responsive health care is to have governments, the health care community, and individual Canadians concentrate on the prevention of illness and the promotion of good health.

To support such an effort, Ministers today agreed to work together on short, medium and long-term, pan-Canadian “healthy living” strategies that emphasize nutrition, physical activity, and healthy weights. The aim is to promote good health and reduce the risk factors associated with diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and the burden they place on health care. Each year, more than two-thirds of deaths in Canada result from these four disease groups.

Ministers announced that this winter, a national healthy living symposium will bring together health and other sectors of government, non-government organizations, health specialists, First Nations and Inuit, business and other stakeholders. Participants will set out specific initiatives to support healthy living in the context of healthy communities, including rural, remote and Northern areas. Ministers directed their officials to report on the progress of the new strategy in mid-2003.

Tobacco
Canada’s leading cause of preventable death is smoking. After a thorough discussion today of this important health priority, Ministers released a progress report on the national tobacco strategy. It shows the smoking rate has declined to its lowest level since monitoring began in 1965, when the rate was 50 per cent. Ministers also recognized that smoking levels are still very high in certain regions, such as the North. Ministers stressed the importance of continuing action in this area.

Quality Health Services*
Ministers discussed strategies to ensure Canadians have quality health services, with a focus on patient safety. Reducing adverse events is a critical issue for providers, administrators, patients and the public. Ministers are committed to furthering work in this area.

Emergency Preparedness
The tragic events of last September 11 highlighted the importance of the health sector’s ability to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Continuing efforts include better coordination among federal-provincial-territorial emergency health services, chief medical officers of health, and emergency social services to improve emergency response capacity in Canada.

Future of Health Care
Health Ministers concluded the meeting with a commitment to continue working together on health care renewal. They agreed the upcoming recommendations from the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada should recognize achievements to date and build on the progress made by all jurisdictions toward reforming, revitalizing and sustaining Canadian health care.** In anticipation of a First Ministers Meeting, Health Ministers agreed to meet.

“This meeting was focused on taking action now to ensure a sustainable future for Canadian health care,” said Gary Mar, Minister of Alberta Health and Wellness. “Over these two days, we developed a much better understanding of our common and unique challenges, and what each jurisdiction can bring to shared solutions.”

“This was my first meeting with my provincial and territorial colleagues. I am encouraged by the number of issues dealing with the health of Canadians on which we made progress,” said Minister McLellan. “I believe this meeting sets the stage for moving forward quickly and co-operatively post-Romanow as Canadians want us to do.”

 

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* Quebec does not participate in these initiatives but contributes by sharing information and best practices.

** With the exception of Quebec, which does not subscribe to nor participate in the work of this Commission.

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