Canadian Armed Forces Military Personnel Instruction 03/04 – The Canadian Armed Forces Spectrum of Care

1. Identification

Date of Issue: 2004-04-23

Date of Modification: 2025-01-31

Application: This Instruction applies to officers and non-commissioned members (NCM) of the Canadian Armed Forces (“CAF Members”)

Approval Authority: Chief of Military Personnel (CMP)

Enquiries:

• Administrative Response Centre (ARC) for policy issues;
• Deputy Chief of Staff Medical Policy (DCOS Med Pol) for medical issues; and
• Deputy Chief of Staff Dental Services (DCOS Dent Svcs) for dental issues.

2. Abbreviations

3. Policy Statement

3.1 The CAF will publish, in an accessible format, a detailed description of those benefits and services – both medical and dental – in a document known as the Canadian Armed Forces Spectrum of Care. The CAF SoC includes guidelines only and should not to be regarded or interpreted as a list of rights.

4. Purpose of the Canadian Armed Forces Spectrum of Care

4.1 CAF members and certain other persons are entitled to receive health benefits and services through CF H SVCS GP in accordance with QR&O Chapters 34, Medical Services, and 35, Dental Services, comparable to those provided to other Canadians through their respective provincial health care plans. The CAF SoC provides direction to CAF health care providers, Base/Wing Surgeons, Clinic Managers and Dental Detachment Commanders. QR&O 34.07, Entitlement to Medical Care, and 35.04, Entitlement to Dental Care, are the authority for utilization of public funds to ensure CAF members have access to a range of medical benefits and services similar to those Canadians receive through provincial health care plans, as well as comprehensive dental treatments in accordance with DAOD 5010-0, Dental Services and DAOD 5010-1, Dental Examinations and Treatment.

Inclusion of Health Services and Benefits

4.2 Recommendations for inclusion of health benefits and services in the CAF SoC will be based on the following principles:

1. The benefit/service is necessary for the purpose of maintaining health and mental well-being or preventing disease; diagnosing or treating an injury; illness or disability; 
2. The benefit/service sustains or restores a serving member to an operationally effective and deployable member of the CAF; 
3. The benefit/service adheres to the scientific principle of evidence-based medicine. (This principle would eliminate any new procedures or remedies that have not been thoroughly and scientifically investigated (e.g. homeopathic remedies)); 
4. The benefit/service is not for purely experimental, research or cosmetic purposes; 
5. The benefit/service is funded by at least one provincial health care plan or federal Agency (this principle is in keeping with PSHCP criteria). 

Amending the Canadian Armed Forces Spectrum of Care

4.3 Recommendations for inclusion of health benefits and services in the CAF SoC will be approved by CMP. Changes to the CAF SoC will be posted on the DGHS web-site and in other internal CF H SVCS GP publications deemed appropriate by DCOS Med Pol or DCOS Dent Svcs.

5. Canadian Armed Forces Spectrum of Care Review Committee

Purpose

5.1 The CAF SoC Review Committee is formed under the authority of CMP. Consistent with the principles described above, the purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and to make recommendations with respect to the health benefits and services that should be included in the CAF SoC and therefore provided at public expense to CAF members and entitled persons in accordance with QR&O Chapters 34 and 35.

Committee Membership

5.2 Chaired by the Chief of Staff (COS), Canadian Forces Health Services Group (CF H Svcs Gp), the SoC Review Committee includes ex-officio members representing various areas of expertise, on an 'as required' basis. In addition, regular members include:

1. DCOS Med Pol;
2. DCOS FHP;
3. DCOS HS Del;
4. DCOS Dent Svcs;
5. CF H SVCS GP Chief Warrant Officer (CWO);
6. Chief Maritime Staff Medical Advisor (CMS Med Adv);
7. Chief Land Staff Medical Advisor (CLS Med Adv);
8. Chief Air Staff Medical Advisor (CAS Med Adv);
9. A personnel representative and a CWO from each of the ECS;
10. A representative from the DGRC;
11. DQOL and the DQOL CWO;
12. DPAD; and
13. CMP CWO.

Frequency of Meetings

5.3 The SoC Review Committee will meet twice every calendar year at the call of the Chair. Extraordinary meetings will be called on an as-required basis either by the Chair, or, on the recommendation of at least one regular Committee member.

6. Responsibilities

Responsibility Table

6.1 The table below describes the various responsibilities for managing the CAF SoC.

7. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policies and Associated DAOD

• QR&O Chapter 34, Medical Services
• QR&O Chapter 35, Dental Services
• DAOD 5010-0, Dental Services

Other References

• DAOD 5010-1, Dental Examinations and Treatment
• Canadian Armed Forces Spectrum of Care