News Release
1999-18
February 5, 1999
Rock and Goodale announce funds for more health care projects
OTTAWA- Health Minister Allan Rock and Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Wheat Board, today announced federal funding for six projects that will help communities in Saskatchewan improve their health. The projects are funded under the Population Health Fund.
"A modern health care system must include greater prevention, health education and action on those factors that influence good health," said Mr. Rock. "These projects support this concept and the efforts of communities and health care organizations to work as partners for the health and well-being of residents."
"Projects like these allow communities to implement relevant, home-grown health care solutions," said Mr. Goodale. "And with our tradition of community-based action, we are in a position to provide real evidence that could influence the direction of community-based health care."
These projects will receive more than $114,000 from the federal government, as part of its commitment to help build and maintain a strong health care system and improve the health of Canadians. In January, the federal government contributed more than $4.3 million for community health care, infostructure and health research projects in Saskatchewan.
In addition the Medical Research Council of Canada (MRC) announced commitments in January of $459,400 over five years in funding for health research projects at the University of Saskatchewan. The federal government supports health research in Canada primarily through the MRC whose budget in 1998-99 was $271.5 million. The MRC reports to the House of Commons through the Minister of Health.
The Government of Canada has introduced a number of innovative programs and initiatives to promote good health at all stages of life and to strengthen research. One such program is the Population Health Fund.
Health Canada has adopted a population health approach to further its continuing mandate to maintain and improve the health of Canadians. This approach recognizes that many factors, in addition to the health care system, have a strong influence on health, for example: nutrition, physical activity, and education. The approach promotes prevention and positive action on determinants which affect the health of the population as a whole, or that of specific population groups.
The goal of the Population Health Fund, which has an annual budget of $14 million, is to increase community capacity for action on the determinants of health. To achieve this goal, projects that facilitate intersectoral planning and coordinated actions among voluntary organizations, service providers, governments and the private sector are supported.
The federal government will continue to support a health care system that is flexible, that maintains the fundamental principles of Medicare, is integrated, encourages community action, and is based on sound information.
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