News Release
2003-91
November 27, 2003
For immediate release
Funding announced for a multi-jurisdictional primary health care initiative
HALIFAX - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Health, today announced
approval for a multi-jurisdictional initiative that will facilitate progress on primary
health care reform in the Atlantic provinces.
The initiative, called 'Building a Better Tomorrow', will receive over $7 million from
Health Canada. This initiative is led by Nova Scotia's Department of Health, in collaboration
with New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.
"I am pleased that the Government of Canada can play a significant role in the collaborative
efforts of provinces and territories to improve primary health care," said Minister McLellan. "Working
together, we have the opportunity to maximize results beyond what any single jurisdiction
can achieve on its own, which will ultimately improve health benefits for all Canadians."
Building a Better Tomorrow is intended to facilitate change in Atlantic Canada's
health care services by engaging providers in a renewed primary health care system. A variety
of training modules will be developed and delivered to existing health care providers which
will focus on supporting and sustaining primary health care renewal.
"I commend Minister McLellan for providing these funds so that the Atlantic provinces
can work together on these projects," said Angus MacIsaac, Nova Scotia's Health Minister. "Health
care providers are pivotal in making community-based health care work well. By providing
additional training to them, Atlantic Canadians can rely on quality community-based health
care."
"Primary health care is a priority component of health renewal in New Brunswick. We are
committed to a health care system that is built on team work and which uses every provider
of the health care team in the most effective and efficient way. Building a better Tomorrow
will assist us in this process" said Minister of Health and Wellness, Elvy Robichaud.
"The P.E.I. health system has a strong interest in improving the continuity and quality
of care through teams of providers practicing in an interdisciplinary and collaborative
way," said Health and Social Services Minister Chester Gillan. " The "Building a Better
Tomorrow" initiative is both timely and relevant to the redesign of PEI's Primary Health
Care System and will easily complement and support the primary health care redesign work
underway at the provincial level."
"In Newfoundland and Labrador we are working with our health and community services providers
to establish primary health care services throughout the province," said Elizabeth Marshall,
Minister of Health and Community Services for Newfoundland and Labrador. "This funding
will enable us to better focus on the provider's scope of practice in the primary health
care team by promoting a team-based approach to service delivery in our province."
Funding for this initiative is provided through the Multi-Jurisdictional Envelope of the
$800-million Primary Health Care Transition Fund (PHCTF) - an important federal mechanism
for the acceleration of primary health care reform across Canada, and a key federal lever
for the renewal of Canada's health care system overall.
The PHCTF was established in September 2000 to support the efforts of provinces and territories
and other stakeholders to develop and implement transitional primary health care reform
initiatives. The PHCTF was also designed to enable recipients to address overarching primary
health care issues that are common nationally or across two or more jurisdictions. Divided
into five envelopes, the majority of the PHCTF was allocated to provincial and territorial
governments, as the jurisdictions responsible for the organization and funding of primary
health care delivery to most Canadians. Initiatives funded through the Multi-Jurisdictional
Envelope are intended to support and complement other transitional primary health care
reform activities taking place in each jurisdiction.
Funding for the Primary Health Care Transition Fund was built into the existing financial
framework in the 2000 federal budget. All PHCTF initiatives will receive monies until March
2006. Many elements of these activities are expected to continue beyond the program, through
the ongoing primary health care reform agendas of participating provinces and territories.
- 30 -
Media Inquiries:
Farah Mohamed
Office of Anne McLellan
Minister of Health
(613) 957-1694
Public Inquiries (Health Canada):
(613) 957-2991
Provincial contact:
Michelle Lucas
Communications Officer
Nova Scotia Department of Health
Tel: (902)424-5886
|
