Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada: The Romanow Commission

In November 2002, Commissioner Roy J. Romanow, Q.C. released his final report, Building on Values: The Future of Health Care in Canada.

It makes recommendations supporting the need for a coordinated approach to HHR planning. The report points to the need to:

• substantially improve the base of information about Canada's health workforce through concerted efforts...to collect, analyze and provide regular reports on critical issues including the recruitment, distribution and remuneration of health care providers.
• establish strategies for addressing the supply, distribution, education, training, and changing skills and patterns of practice for Canada's health workforce.

Mr. Romanow further stresses the importance of interprofessional education for patient-centred care, stating...

"the direction of our health care system must be shaped around health needs of individual patients, their families and communities".

He notes the need to develop new models of care to reflect the different ways of delivering health care services, stating...

"in view of ...changing trends, corresponding changes must be made in the way health care providers are educated and trained. If health care providers are expected to work together and share expertise in a team environment, it makes sense that their education and training should prepare them for this type of working arrangement."

The final report, Building on Values: The Future of Health Care in Canada, available from Government of Canada Publications.