11
Volume2 Issue2
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CDA
at
W
ork
CDA participates in
HEALTHCARE INNOVATION
PANEL
Representatives from various health careprofessions, policy-makers and
industrygroups discussed current challenges andbarriers to innovation
in thehealth care sector. They alsoexploredways the federal government
could support promising areas of innovation toultimately improve the
country’s health care system.
“Qualityof care, sustainability, accessibility and affordabilitywere at the
heart of thediscussions,” explainsDr. MacDonald. “We took a focused look
atmeasures that currently exist and are successful, to seehow they couldbe
appliedmorebroadly.”
Dr. MacDonaldput forth the following suggestions to the
advisorypanel onbehalf of theprofession:
To re-invest funds currentlygoing towardmedical
transportation from theNon-InsuredHealthBenefits
program tomodels that bringhealth care topatients in
their communities;
Todevelop taxmeasures that promotepreventative
health careby encouragingCanadians to acquire
extendedhealthbenefits; and
To fundmodels that encourage team-based approaches
topatient care in local clinics, such as those currently seen
indental offices.
TheAdvisory Panel onHealthcare Innovationwas created in2014by
Minister of HealthRonaAmbrose. “Access tohighquality care is important
to all Canadians.Weneed towork together across all sectors of
society toharness the tremendous potential of innovation in
health care and improve the responsiveness and sustainability
of thehealth care system,” she said following the consultation in
Ottawa. “I was verypleased tohear about today’s livelydiscussion
among someof the key stakeholders inCanadianhealth care and
what thepanel isworkingon.”
Thepanel will beholdingmore consultations across the country early
this year, andwill present a final reportwith recommendations toMinister
Ambrose inMay 2015.
a
Dr.GaryMacDonald,CDA president,
attendeda facilitated roundtable
discussion inDecember organizedby
HealthCanada’sAdvisoryPanel on
Healthcare Innovation.
Quality of care, sustainability,
accessibilityandaffordability
were at the heart of the
discussions.
–Dr. GaryMacDonald
RonaAmbrose,Minister ofHealth, at the roundtablediscussion.
Photocredit: HealthCanada
