2023-10-10 16:36:03
The federal health minister is touting the new $1.2 billion bilateral funding agreement between Ottawa and British Columbia as a new model of federal-provincial cooperation to address the health care crisis across the country.
Mark Holland said the agreement aims to find answers to the challenges facing Canada’s health-care system instead of pitting provincial and federal officials against each other over who is responsible in each jurisdiction.
“I understand that we want to protect [champs de] jurisdiction, Holland agreed during the signing of the agreement with British Columbia at Vancouver General Hospital on Tuesday. But ultimately, health is health, and we all have a responsibility to find ways to work together. »
“I am not trying to walk around with a stick and be aggressive towards the provinces. I want to work with the provinces and territories. I want to find solutions. So it’s not about encroaching on skills, but about being partners,” he added.
The deal is part of a $196 billion, 10-year national health deal that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proposed to the provinces in February.
Quebec is the only province that has not accepted the agreement in principle, with Prime Minister François Legault bristling at being held accountable to Ottawa for having to achieve certain health care goals.
Mr. Holland indicated that talks with Quebec were continuing.
The agreement with British Columbia, under which the $1.2 billion in funding will be transferred to the province over the next three years, is accompanied by an action plan covering the same period to develop “a innovative care model” in 83 acute care sites that would allow nurses to spend more time with patients.
The funding will also be used to recruit and retain doctors and other health professionals and would increase the number of Foundry centers in British Columbia from 16 to 35. aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of young people.
Provincial Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside said the health and well-being of youth is a crucial part of the province’s plan as it addresses addiction issues before they become take root and become much more difficult and expensive to treat.
“The upstream efforts that we’re making on child and youth mental health… so that we can catch small issues before they get bigger, these are all crucial projects that we have and have been working on. committed to working collectively,” said Mr.me Whiteside at the press conference.
British Columbia has also agreed to work with the First Nations Health Authority to improve access to culturally competent and trauma-informed treatment and care, as well as to increase access to mental health services and drug addiction, as the overdose crisis continues at an unrelenting pace.
Better transparency
Access to data and information is a major part of the agreement, with provinces and territories to commit to massively improving healthcare data collection and digital medical records in exchange for this funding .
In the case of British Columbia, the provincial government agreed to increase the percentage of residents who can electronically access their health information to 75%, while ensuring that half of all family health service providers of the province can “securely share patient health information”.
The province must also publicly report its progress against various targets each year.
“A vital part of this agreement is ensuring that we can show progress, not just talk about it,” Minister Holland said. Show it in data and make sure patients feel it through better care and outcomes. »
Mr. Holland said this support aims to move Canada’s health care system from “one of the best” in the world to “the best” on the planet.
This funding comes as B.C.’s health system continues to face challenges due to staffing shortages, patient demand and capacity issues.
Provincial Health Minister Adrian Dix said last month that the number of emergency room patients in British Columbia never fell below 9,000 in July and August, as has historically been the case, and the The number of patients approached 10,000 in September, about 700 more than normal.
Meanwhile, the province continues to grapple with the opioid crisis, as more than 1,600 people have died from overdoses through August of this year, putting British Columbia on a path to recovery. he deadliest year since a public health emergency was declared in April 2016.
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