2005-45 May 19, 2005 For immediate release OTTAWA -- Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh today reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the 2005 Budget investment of $15 million over four years will be directed toward national initiatives to reduce wait times, including work toward the development of pan-Canadian benchmarks. “Canadians' faith in the integrity of our publicly financed health care system is directly tied to our ability to ensure timely access to quality care,” said the Minister Dosanjh. “Wait times are an important measure of overall health system performance.” That is why the Federal Budget 2005 provided $15 million over four years in direct federal funding to complement provincial/territorial wait times initiatives across the country. This money will support relevant patient/provider education, the sharing of best practices, and the facilitation of input on wait times issues from a variety of sources, including decision-makers, providers and patients, and essential research. It will also be used to examine factors that influence timely access for First Nations and Inuit populations. This funding will be used to support initiatives such as the Wait Times Alliance (WTA) national consultations with Canadians on wait times and the development of benchmarks. The WTA, comprised of six medical sub-specialties and the Canadian Medical Association, recently released an interim report that proposes benchmarks in the five priority areas of cancer, cardiac care, joint replacements, sight restoration and diagnostic imaging. The May 24-26 consultations are another key instrument to advancing the First Ministers' commitment to establish evidence-based benchmarks for medically acceptable wait times and to help sustain the dialogue on the most important health issue for Canadians. “Engaging Canadians and stakeholders in discussions around these key health issues generates vital information to help shape the development of strategies that support the effective management of wait times and steers us well on the path to establishing pan-Canadian benchmarks,” said Minister Dosanjh. The $15 million is over and above the $5.5 billion over ten years that the Government of Canada is already investing in the Wait Times Reduction Fund to assist Provinces and Territories in their development of strategies that effectively reduce wait times in their own jurisdictions. Governments have agreed to establish evidence-based benchmarks for medically acceptable wait times by December 31, 2005, beginning in five priority areas. The 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care signed by First Ministers in September 2004 has mobilized considerable work across the country to reduce wait times. For example, Ontario's Cardiac Care Network, the Saskatchewan Surgical Care Network, the Orthopaedic Surgery Wait List Project in Nova Scotia are excellent examples of work underway. In addition, the Western Canada Waiting List’s partnership of government and non-government stakeholders provides an example of successful collaboration for progressing work on reducing wait times. The reports from the Ontario's Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences and the Taming of the Queue II Colloquium are also excellent progress reports on addressing pan-Canadian benchmarks and maximum acceptable wait times for certain health services. Health Canada will continue to support collaborative actions that contribute to the establishment of pan-Canadian benchmarks for medically acceptable wait times to ensure Canadians access the health care they need, when they need it. - 30 - Media Enquiries: Carole Saindon Également disponible en français Health Canada (613) 957-1588 Adèle Blanchard Office of Minister Dosanjh Minister of Health (613) 957-0200 Public Enquiries: (613) 957-2991
