March 22, 2016 (Ottawa) – HealthCareCAN, the national voice of healthcare organizations and hospitals across Canada, is pleased that the federal government has taken the first steps in terms of investing in the future health and health research in Canada.
“These investments hold the fort on health and health care and demonstrate the minister’s good faith heading into negotiations for a new Health Accord with the provinces and territories. Investments of 50$ million for Canada Health Infoway for online prescriptions and telehealth and 39$ million for the Canadian Foundation for Health Improvement for the spread of innovative practices should be welcome by provinces and territories.
“If healthcare was a patient, it has been seriously traumatized over the past few years. Today, the patient has been stabilized and the stage has been set for transporting the system into the future”, said Bill Tholl, President and CEO of HealthCareCAN.
HealthCareCAN was pleased to see some language enabling research hospitals access to new infrastructure investments. Similarly, the announcements of 237$ million for Genome Canada over three years and 150$ million over five years for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research was welcome news. “This is a start to regaining some of the lost research capacity. We look forward to working with the Ministers of Health, Science and Innovation, Science and Economic Development in realizing the full potential of the health and life sciences sector as an engine for the Canadian economy”, said Mr. Tholl.
HealthCareCAN is the national voice of healthcare organizations and hospitals across Canada. We foster informed and continuous, results-oriented discovery and innovation across the continuum of healthcare. We act with others to enhance the health of the people of Canada; to build the capability for high quality care; and to help ensure value for money in publicly financed, healthcare programs. Learn more about our organization at www.healthcarecan.ca. Follow us on Twitter: @HealthCareCAN or Facebook: healthcarecan.soinssantecan.
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Media contact:
Lucie Boileau, Director of Communications, Marketing and Government Relations
lboileau@healthcarecan.ca
855-236-0213/613-241-8005 x 205
Cell: 613-462-5604