Farewell, Wizard of Oz
The federal and provincial/territorial ministers of health are meeting in Vancouver this week. The event is newsworthy for several reasons. First is the fact that the federal government actually is meeting with the provinces and territories to plan a national course for health care. Ottawa essentially had become the Wizard of Oz – the all-powerful, but rarely seen, player behind the scenes. The Vancouver gathering represents a first step in a substantial and complex agenda for health care reform in the country.
The Health Minister is responsible for negotiating a new Health Accord for Canada, which will focus on four key areas. First, it must support the delivery of more and better home care services. Second, a new Health Accord must advance pan-Canadian collaboration on health innovation to encourage the adoption of digital health technologies. Third, there must be improved access to necessary prescription medications. Finally, high-quality mental health services must be more available to Canadians who need them.
Despite the current fiscal frailty, these are exciting times for the country. The multi-year Health Accord is a national initiative that will help us tackle many pressing social challenges.
ISBN – 1-55382-661-2