QUESTION PERIOD — Health
Health Care Providers
December 12, 2023
December 12 is International Universal Health Coverage Day, and the 2023 theme is “Health for All: Time for Action.” On this day, health advocates call for strong, equitable health systems that leave no one behind. A foundational element of universal health care and a high-performing health care system is accessible primary care; however, in April 2023, a national survey found that more than one in five Canadians — an estimated 6.5 million people — do not have a primary care provider, neither a family doctor nor nurse practitioner, that they see regularly.
Senator Gold, apart from the financial contributions to the provincial and territorial jurisdictions, how is the federal government contributing to advancing primary care in Canada to ensure that no one is left behind?
Thank you. Yes, in addition to the financial contributions, which are fundamentally important to our system, the federal government exercises a leadership role — I could almost call it a convenor role in some sense. Let me give you a few examples.
So far, the government has established a Coalition for Action for Health Workers to form immediate and long-term solutions to address the significant challenges that the networks face. It has introduced measures to facilitate the entry of foreign national physicians as permanent residents. It has invested close to $200 billion under the Working Together Plan with provinces and territories, through which the government has asked provinces and territories to streamline foreign credential recognition for internationally educated health professionals. It will continue to work with its partners in the provinces and the territories in that leadership convening role, backed up by the ongoing federal financial support that the system so desperately needs.
Thank you, Senator Gold. How else is the government collaborating with health care professionals and stakeholders to identify the root causes of Canada’s systemic health care problems?
In this regard, as you know, colleagues, the Minister of Health is in regular contact with his counterparts across the country to explore all the different areas, both needs at the provincial level and the issues that have risen to national concern. In that regard, those discussions are the primary vehicle through which new ideas can be generated and new partnerships can be forged.
