OTTAWA - Medical Educational Modules in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Health were launched today by the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Federal Minister of Health, together with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and The Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada (IPAC).
"These educational modules outline ways for physicians to provide better, more culturally responsive care to Aboriginal people," said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health. "Fostering better health care outcomes for Canada's Aboriginal people is vital, timely and worthy of our resources, and we're excited to see these modules launched."
The four teaching modules in Obstetrics, Gynecology, Psychiatry, and Family Medicine provide medical residents and practising physicians with the education and cultural competencies required to better meet the health care needs of Canada's Aboriginal people. The modules were created by three working groups composed of faculty from Canada's medical schools, national Aboriginal organizations and Indigenous elders, and experts in First Nations, Inuit and Métis health and curriculum development.
The modules will be available to all faculties of medicine in postgraduate medical education (PGME) programs and continuing medical education. For postgraduate medical education in Canada, there are approximately 49 residency programs offering training in Obstetrics, Gynecology, Psychiatry, or Family Medicine, and the modules could be accessed by all of these programs. In addition, the "Core Curriculum" could reach more than 700 postgraduate residency programs.
The core curriculum covers numerous topics, including residential schools history, social determinants of health and an overview of the Government of Canada's Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, a federal initiative that provides health coverage for goods and services not covered by provinces, territories or other private insurance plans. Included in the curriculum and teaching modules are faculty development components and educational content and resources to support teaching. These modules will also serve as a model for other specialties, disciplines and faculties wishing to integrate similar teaching into their educational programming.
The launch of the modules marks the culmination of a two-year, $1-million initiative funded by Health Canada.
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Health Canada
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Josée Bellemare
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
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