News Release
2003-60
July 25, 2003
For Immediate Release
Health Canada and the Assembly of First Nations agree to extend deadline for client Consent initiative
OTTAWA - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Health, and the Assembly
of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, announced today an extension of the deadline
for the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program client Consent initiative to March 1,
2004. The extension is the result of an agreement reached between Minister McLellan and
the new National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, to work together
on the Consent initiative.
The six-month extension takes into account Health Canada's requirement to have the authorization
of First Nations clients for the use of their personal health information to provide benefits
and ensure patient safety, while also allowing for revisions to the existing consent materials
to address First Nations' concerns.
"Today's announcement reflects Health Canada's clear commitment to a collaborative process
to protect the health and privacy of its First Nations and Inuit clients," said Minister
McLellan.
National Chief Fontaine acknowledged the importance of the deadline extension. "I am pleased
to have reached an agreement with Minister McLellan to ensure the process for consent is
one that First Nations can support and that non-insured health benefits will continue to
be available to First Nations clients. This shows First Nations and government can work
together to address our shared priorities," said National Chief Fontaine.
Minister McLellan and National Chief Fontaine agreed that Health Canada and AFN would
work together to develop a jointly accepted consent form, appropriate protocols to protect
patient safety, and the AFN would engage First Nations at the regional level. First Nations
clients who have already provided their consent will automatically be grand-fathered.
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Media Inquiries:
Alexander Swann
Office of Anne McLellan
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
Ian McLeod
Bilingual Communications Officer
Assembly of First Nations
241-6789 ext 336
cell: 613 859-4335
Bryan Hendry
Communications Officer, Health Secretariat
Assembly of First Nations
241-6789 ext. 229
Don Kelly
Communications Director
Assembly of First Nations
241-6789 ext. 320
cell: 292-2787
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