October 18, 2016
Federal-Provincial-Territorial Health Ministers Meeting Concludes in Toronto
Today, Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Kelvin Goertzen concluded a two-day meeting with provincial, territorial and federal officials that focused on securing long-term funding and innovation, and ensuring a sustainable health-care system for all Canadians.
“We recognize that every province faces its own unique challenges associated with the different demographics of their particular province,” said Goertzen. “In Manitoba’s experience, the health-care challenges associated with our large and growing Indigenous population and the remote nature of much of our province result in significant cost pressures around health-care delivery. Our expectation would be the federal government recognize the unique challenges of each province and will provide long-term, flexible funding to allow provinces to deliver health care appropriately within their own jurisdictions.”
While the discussions with federal partners were productive on many areas related to health-care delivery, the minister said Manitoba remains concerned about the potential loss of $39 million in health-care support as proposed by the federal government beginning in budget year 2017-18.
“Historically Canada was an equal partner in funding health care for Canadians. That has fallen dramatically since the start of medicare to the point that federal support for health care is below 25 per cent in most provinces. Our province is committed to seeking innovation and efficiency within our health-care system. However, the federal government must participate as a real partner in supporting the health-care needs of Canadians,” said Goertzen.
The minister stressed that health-care needs are not the same in every province, noting that chronic disease affects Manitoba in particular.
For example, the minister said that while kidney failure rates in Canada have stabilized, Manitoba has the highest rate of kidney disease in the country. In addition, end-stage kidney disease prevalence and the need for dialysis are two to three times higher in Manitoba’s Indigenous populations compared to other groups.
Currently, about 1,500 patients receive dialysis treatment through the Manitoba Renal Program, with another 5,000 patients monitored through the program’s renal clinics. Last year, the Manitoba Renal Program patient population grew by 484 Manitobans.
Goertzen renewed a call from premiers for a first ministers meeting with the prime minister to deal with the need to establish a long-term, predictable and flexible funding mechanism for health care.
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