Letter to Editor regarding the article “Canada needs a new Health Accord to liberate health-care talent” (Hill Times – July 30, 2012)

2012-129
August 2, 2012
For immediate release

OTTAWA – In response to your article “Canada needs a new Health Accord to liberate health-care talent,” I would like to point out our Government’s leadership on the issue of scope of practice under the medical profession.

Our government respects provincial and territorial jurisdiction when it comes to delivering health care, but takes concrete action in areas we are directly involved.

Recently, we announced proposed new regulations which will give midwives, nurse practitioners and podiatrists the authority to prescribe, administer and provide certain medications that contain controlled substances – when  allowed to do so under their scopes of practice, as set out under provincial and territorial legislation.

These proposed changes will create efficiencies in the health care system, as well as directly benefit Canadians because patients may no longer need to visit more than one health professional to obtain a prescription for a medication containing a controlled substance.

I  was  pleased to see that the Premiers have agreed on  ways to collaborate in improving their health care systems – including the pursuit of team based models that will also enable health care providers to work to their full scope of practice.

We look forward to continuing to work together with the provinces and territories to support innovative solutions that will help ensure that all Canadians have access to health care across the country.

Sincerely,

Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health

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