News Release
2003-09
March 6, 2003
For Immediate Release
Larry Bagnell and Minister Peter Jenkins announce $4.5 million to strengthen primary health care in Yukon
WHITEHORSE - On behalf of the Honourable Anne McLellan, Federal Minister
of Health, Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for the Yukon Territory, and the Honourable
Peter Jenkins, Minister of Health and Social Services, today announced that the Government
of Canada is investing over $4.5 million in initiatives designed to ensure that Yukon residents
have access to high-quality, affordable and sustainable primary health care services.
Primary health care is the first level of care and the initial point of contact that a
patient has with the health system. Often, primary health care begins with the family physician
or community health nurse. Primary health care is meant to be the first step in the continuum
of care, with multi-disciplinary health care provider teams emphasizing health promotion
and illness prevention, and providing a link to more specialized care, such as that provided
in hospitals. The Government of the Yukon Territory will use a portion of this federal
funding to:
- reorganize and integrate primary health care services and structures, with an emphasis
on health promotion; and,
- improve and enhance existing primary health care information systems, including staff
training, so that the systems are used effectively.
"This funding will improve the Yukon's ability to integrate initiatives aimed at both
health promotion, and injury and illness prevention," said Mr. Bagnell. "These changes
will result in better health outcomes for Yukon residents which, in turn, will relieve
pressure on their health care system."
"This money from the Primary Health Care Transition Fund will allow us to improve coordination
of our health care systems that will in turn ensure better care and support for individuals.
In keeping with the principles of primary health care," said Minister Jenkins, " we will
work with the public to determine just what our priorities and projects should be for the
betterment of all Yukoners."
Minister Jenkins said that initial projects to be funded include planning of multi-level
care facilities in Watson Lake and Dawson City and support to the Council for Yukon First
Nations for a First Nations Health Summit. As well, funding will be directed to the Child
Development Centre for a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) assessment and diagnostic
team coordinator and additional funding will also go to the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society
of Yukon for a position to work closely with adults affected by FASD, and in the area of
prevention.
"We know these are definite areas of need as expressed by Yukoners and we are going to
meet these needs straight away."
Funding for today's announcement is provided under the $800-million Primary Health Care
Transition Fund (PHCTF) which was established in September 2000 by the Government of Canada
to support the efforts of provinces and territories to develop and implement transitional
primary health care reform initiatives as part of the overall renewal of Canada's health
care system. The PHCTF also supports overarching, Canadian initiatives that address issues
which all jurisdictions and health stakeholders are facing.
A renewed primary health care system would have the following features:
- More primary health care organizations that are accountable to provide a prescribed
set of comprehensive services to the populations they serve.
- Multi-disciplinary provider teams within these primary health care organizations.
- Better coordination and integration with health services available elsewhere, such
as hospitals.
- Greater emphasis on health promotion, disease and injury prevention, and chronic diseases
management.
- Improved access to essential services, 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week.
As recently announced in the Government of Canada's 2003 budget, federal support to health
care in Canada will increase by $17.3 billion over the next three years. This support will
be $34.8 billion over five years, which includes a $9.5 billion increase in cash transfers
to provinces and territories over the next five years and a $2.5 billion immediate investment
through a Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST) supplement.
Funding for the PHCTF was built into the existing financial framework in the 2000 federal
budget.
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Media Inquiries:
Farah Mohamed
Office of Anne McLellan
Minister of Health
(613) 957-1694
Peter Carr
Cabinet Communications Advisor
Government of the Yukon Territory
(867) 667-8688
Tara Madigan
Health Canada
(613) 946-4250
Public Inquiries (Health Canada):
(613) 957-2991
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