Clement says it is time to move forward on guarantees

News Release

Untitled
Charlottetown, August 21, 2006 - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health,
outlined today to the Canadian Medical Association Annual General Meeting that patient wait times
guarantees are achievable given the progress provinces and territories have made in reducing wait
times.
"Many provinces and territories are already guaranteeing timely care in some form or other," said
Minister Clement. "Given all the work provinces and territories are doing, I believe the next logical
step is a commitment to put guarantees in place as part of a patient-centred approach."
Minister Clement outlined that a core element to patient wait times guarantees is ensuring there
is recourse. Recourse should be fair and equitable, flexible to respond to individual circumstances
and be publicly funded. It also provides patients access to alternative sources of care by another
provider or another jurisdiction if medically acceptable wait times cannot be met. He noted that
such successful system-supported recourse mechanisms would minimize the need for patients to turn
to the legal system for recourse.
Minister Clement highlighted the progress provinces and territories are making in meeting their
wait time goals and setting up systems to ensure patients receive care in a medically acceptable
time. He stressed that collaborative action must continue between all governments and health care
providers to guarantee timely access to quality care, including continued efforts to enhance research,
technology, and health human resources.
To show Canadians how their health leaders are working together to reduce and better manage wait
times, the government has proposed a federal-provincial-territorial Health Ministers "Success Conference" to
take place this fall.
Minister Clement highlighted that provinces and territories can make progress by next year and by
2008 towards establishing wait times guarantees.
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Media Enquiries:
Tracey Taweel
Health Canada
(902) 483-1193
Robin Walsh
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
Public Enquiries:
613-957-2991
1-866 225-0709

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2016-12-15

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Clement says it is time to move forward on guarantees

News Release

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