News Release
1999-58
April 1, 1999
Minister announces funding for primary care project
OTTAWA - Health Minister Allan Rock, today announced funding for a project that will contribute to improvements in patient care, treatment and services, at the primary care level, the first point of contact people have with the health care system. The project is being funded under the federal government's Health Transition Fund.
"Health care reform must include primary care if we are going to put the building blocks in place for the health care system of the future," said Minister Rock. "Projects like this one will allow governments to bring together what is now a fragmented health care system by sharing information, best practices and outcomes that will strengthen the entire system."
The Primary Care Implementation and Evaluation project will support the development and testing of a telephone advisory service, information technology, patient enrolment activities and support a broad evaluation as part of Ontario's primary care reform project announced in May 1998 by the Ontario government. The Ontario Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Ontario Medical Association, will be testing a new model for enhancing access to patient care in five sites in Ontario.
Funding of $18.4 million will be provided under the Health Transition Fund. The Health Transition Fund was established by the federal government in 1997 in response to a recommendation by the National Forum on Health. It is designed to generate information and evidence on the organization, funding and delivery of health services in four priority areas -- home care, pharmacare, primary health care and integrated service delivery.
Evaluation results from projects will be shared with the provinces and territories. The Fund provides $30 million to national level projects and $120 million to provincial and territorial projects allocated on a per capita basis.
Announcements about further national, provincial and territorial projects will be forthcoming.
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