Advisory Committee on Health Delivery and Human Resources

Letter from the Co-Chairs of the Conference of DMs of Health to stakeholders

We are writing to inform you of a recent decision taken by the Conference of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Deputy Ministers of Health concerning requests for changes to mandatory entry-to-practice education credentials for health professions.

Deputy Ministers appreciate that health professions evolve in response to changes and advancements in the delivery of health care. Such changes and advancements may require consideration of changing entry-to-practice or advance practice education programs. Changes to entry-to-practice credentials sometimes proceed without a full appreciation of the anticipated impact on health human resource planning and the implications for professional legislation and regulation, labour mobility, supply, changing models of service delivery, public policy, compensation and educational costs. The issue of requests for changes in mandatory entry-to-practice credentials in health disciplines has become a priority concern for Deputy Ministers of Health across Canada.

The Conference of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Deputy Ministers of Health requests that all health professional associations and accrediting bodies postpone further decisions and actions on any new requests for an increase in entry-to-practice credentials until the Conference receives a report and recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Health Delivery and Human Resources (ACHDHR). It is anticipated that the Conference of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Deputy Ministers of Health will receive and consider recommendations on principles and policy to address this issue at its December 2003 meeting.

The ACHDHR's Working Group on Entry-to-Practice Credentials will soon undertake consultations with national and provincial stakeholders, including professional associations. The goal of this Working Group will be to develop recommendations regarding principles and policies in order to assist governments in determining whether a request for a change in an entry-to-practice education credential is based on a comprehensive, impartial process that would serve the interest of patient care and the effectiveness of health care delivery in their respective jurisdiction.

We ask for your cooperation in respecting this decision and hope that you will work with the ACHDHR's Working Group on Entry-to-Practice Credentials to develop fair and effective national principles and policy to address the concerns of the Conference of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Deputy Ministers of Health. The Working Group on Entry-to-Practice will be consulting with national and provincial stakeholders, including professional associations this fall to seek their input and advice on improving the process for considering requests to change entry-to-practice credentials. Your assistance in this effort is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Ian C. Green Deputy Minister Health Canada Government of Canada	Penny Ballem Deputy Minister Ministry of Health Services Government of British Columbia