Federal Ministers Make Slew of Health Announcements

Federal Ministers make slew of announcements during cabinet’s “health week” and B.C.’s provincial health officer wades into the opioid epidemic once more. On that, and more, here is your Syntax Weekly Health Round-Up.

Around the Hill

• The House of Commons and Senate are adjourned for the summer recess.

Around Government 

• Federal cabinet ministers and parliamentary secretaries fanned out across the country for a series of announcements relating to the government’s “health week” focus. On the docket were two primary items: the expansion of dental care and strengthening the health workforce.
  • On dental care, the government announced it has partnered with Sun Life to make it easier for oral health providers — including dentists, dental hygienists, denturists, or dental specialists — to treat patients and submit CDCP claims. Specifically, the partnership will allow eligible providers to provide services to patients on a claim-by-claim basis without formally signing up by allowing the provider to bill Sun Life directly and accept payment for services covered under the program.
  • To improve health workforce issues, the government announced funding for several projects addressing research, data, and planning. The projects will work collaboratively with partners, including provinces and territories, to support the health workforce and better plan for its future.

Around the Dominion

• The Government of PEI announced it is increasing the financial recruitment incentives for allied health professionals to improve the healthcare system. The recruitment incentive will provide up to $10,000 with a return in service commitment of 1,950 working hours or a one-year full-time equivalent. Eligible professionals include Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs), Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologists, Respiratory Therapists (RTs), Sonographers, Social Workers, Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Dental Hygienists. Still in PEI, the province announced it is accepting applications for grants of up to $5,000 to the Live Well PEI Wellness Grant Program to support health promotion projects and initiatives
• In pre-election posturing, New Brunswick Health Minister Bruce Fitch announced that almost 75 per cent of the provincial health plan’s goals have been achieved, two-and-a-half years into the five-year plan, with all remaining projects underway. The department is now working with its healthcare partners to identify the next set of priorities.
• The Government of Ontario announced it is investing $10 million to help more than 1,000 nurses upskill their training to provide emergency department care. The funding is intended to bolster, stabilize, and maintain the nursing workforce in emergency departments across the province, especially in rural and remote hospitals. Since its launch last year, over 400 nurses from 72 rural and remote hospitals have received upskill training.
• British Columbia’s provincial health officer issued a report with fresh recommendations on expanding alternatives to toxic, unregulated drug supply. The report contains three primary recommendations: to explore implementation of non-prescribed alternatives to unregulated drugs; engaging those with living and lived experience in the planning, design, and implementation of all programs and policies; and exploring meaningful partnership with Indigenous groups to work through effective co-governance.