Health Care Renewal Accord 2003


On February 5, 2003, Prime Minister Jean Chretien, the Provincial Premiers, and Territorial Leaders reached an historic agreement on an action plan for renewing and sustaining public health care for Canadians. The agreement implements many of the recommendations made by Roy Romanow in his Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, which issued its Final Report in November, 2002.

To meet its commitments under the 2003 First Ministers Health Accord, the government of Canada will provide a $17.3 billion increase in health care funding over the next three years, which will rise to $34.8 billion over five years. It will:

•        create a 5-year $16 billion Health Reform Fund targeted to primary health care, home care and catastrophic drug
coverage;

•        create a new Canada Health Transfer (CHT) by April 1, 2004 to enhance transparency and accountability and
ensure predictable annual increases in health transfers. Subject to a review of progress toward achieving the
agreed upon reforms and following the First Ministers Meeting, the Health Reform Fund will be rolled into the
CHT by March 31,2008;

•        Immediately invest $2.5 billion in the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST) to relieve existing pressures;

•        establish a $1.5 billion Diagnostic/Medical Equipment Fund to improve access to publicly funded diagnostic
services;

•        provide an additional $600 million to continue development of secure electronic patient records, which are vital
to quality care and patient safety;

•        provide $500 million for research hospitals through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

Accountability

Annual reporting to Canadians will be facilitated by the creation of a Health Council made up of Canadians, representatives of both levels of government and experts. Their work will enable Canadians to assess health system performance and the pace of implementation of the Accord. To improve reporting, the Accord contains clear objectives and a commitment to achieving comparable indicators on health system performance.

Working toward change

This Accord marks a turning point in the Government's efforts to renew health care for the 21st century. Change will take time. The Accord builds on and accelerates the work agreed to in September, 2000 and the important reforms all governments have already made to improve the quality, accessibility and sustainability of our public health care system. For More Information, visit Health Canada's Website, at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/engish/hca2003/index.html

In commemoration of the launch of a new Canada Post Stamp, Peter Milliken, M.P. participated in a ceremonial puck-drop at a Kingston Frontenacs Home Game on February 21, 2003 . Pictured here, from left to right are: Kingston Frontenacs Team Captain Cory Stillman, The Hon. Senator Frank Mahovlich, The Hon. Denis Coderre, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Peter Milliken, M.P. and Dan Sisca, Team Captain of the Mississauga Ice Dogs.