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Health Careers
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Welcome to the Health Careers pages!
The right mix of health care providers, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time are needed for a health care system to provide accessible, high quality health care services. However, our current system is facing a number of challenges, including:
- A growing number of health care needs;
- A shortage of health care providers in all jurisdictions in Canada, especially in rural areas and Aboriginal communities; and
- An under-representation of First Nations, Inuit and Métis in the health care work force.
Achieving a stable and optimal health care work force is a priority for Health Canada. As such, we are collaborating with provincial, territorial and Aboriginal governments, as well as other key health-related organizations to address these health human resource challenges.
In addition, through our Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative, we are investing $100 million over five years to increase the number of First Nations, Inuit and Métis health care providers in Canada. Also contributing to this goal are the First Nations and Inuit Health Careers Program and the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy.
The Health Careers pages provide information for:
- First Nations, Inuit and Métis students on health careers;
- Professionals interested in health human resources and the Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative; and
- Teachers and parents on how they can introduce careers in the health care industry to their youth.
Did you know?
In 2003, of the estimated 258,000 registered nurses in Canada, approximately 1,200 were First Nations, Inuit and Métis (Source: Canadian Nurses Association). In addition, there are only about 150 First Nations, Inuit and Métis physicians in Canada. These numbers fall short of the numbers required, roughly 7,770 and 700 respectively, to ensure equitable representation of Aboriginal people in the health care work force.
