Provincial and Territorial Health Ministers Engage on National Stage

Provincial and territorial health ministers met today in Quebec City to discuss access, quality, and safety issues in sustaining their publicly funded health systems.

Ministers are disappointed by the lack of commitment by successive federal governments on the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy and the missed opportunity to deliver Canadians with protection against catastrophic expenses and support for people with rare diseases. The provinces and territories remain committed to this important issue and look forward to seeing the Federal Government fully engage as equal partners in the weeks and months ahead.

Quebec has its own pharmacare program and consequently, is not part of the development of the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy.  Quebec is however open to sharing information and best practices.

Ministers talked about their progress and common interests in better access to health services and affordable drugs, pandemic preparedness, e-health, and Fabry�s disease research.  They also emphasized the importance of health promotion, and chronic disease prevention and management in improving the health of Canadians.

All these issues require significant funding.  Ministers share the expectations of Canadians that the Federal Government will be a full funding partner in advancing these issues.

�Provincial and territorial ministers are looking for commitments and action from the federal government on the key issues we discussed today,� said Prince Edward Island Health Minister Doug Currie, chair of the Provincial-Territorial Conference of Ministers of Health.

Beginning in 2009, ministers will host a series of forums with governments, experts and stakeholders to advance collaborative work towards a sustainable health system that delivers excellent care at affordable cost.

�These forums will build on the efforts of individual provinces and territories to improve their health systems,� said Minister Currie.

Provincial and territorial ministers are troubled by the current listeria infections and will continue to work with the Federal Government in the review process.

Ministers meet with federal health Minister Tony Clement tomorrow.

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2008 09 04                                        7:40 p.m.