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Volume2 Issue5
CDA
at
W
ork
Themain focusesof this year’smeetings,
heldonMay5and6,were the reviewof
theNon-InsuredHealthBenefits (NIHB)
programandoral health standards for
veterans in long-termcare (LTC) facilities.
TheCDAdelegationheld35meetingswith
parliamentariansover thecourseof two
days inMay, includingministers, officials in
thePrimeMinister’sOffice, senior officials,
senators, andotherMembersof Parliament.
Other key topicsof discussionwere food
labellingas it pertains to sugar consumption
andprescriptiondrug issues.
CDAwas joinedby representativesof the
Assemblyof FirstNations (AFN) todiscuss
the reviewof theNIHBprogramwith key
parliamentarians. “Wewanted to reiterate
our strong support of thecurrent joint
reviewof theprogrambyAFNandHealth
Canada,whichwearehopefulwill lead to
aneffectiveandpatient-focusedprogram,”
saysDr. AlastairNicoll, CDApresident.
“Wealsoemphasized that theprogram
reviewmust be seen through to its
conclusion toensure it isbothadequately
fundedandadministrativelyefficient. First
Nations and Inuit populationsneedand
deserveanNIHBprogram that isbased
primarilyonclient needs and focusedon
improvingclient outcomes.”
With regard to theoral healthcareneeds
of veterans inLTC facilities, CDAwanted
tounderline thecapacityof Veteran
AffairsCanada (VAC) to show leadership
on standardsof care for seniors. “The
Department plays avital role inproviding
care for a segment of Canada’s elders. And
becauseof its contractual relationshipswith
close to200care facilities across thecountry,
VACcanpositively influence thequalityof
oral healthcareoffered toall seniors inLTC
facilities,” explainsDr. ThomasRaddall, chair
of CDA’s advocacycommittee.
CDA’sDays on
theHill event—an
annual initiative
that connects
dentistswith federal
parliamentarians to
discuss issues affecting
dentistry—was
anopportunity to
advocate forpolicy
change tohelp
improve the oral
healthofCanadians.
DentistsMeetwithParliamentarians on
NIHBandSeniors Issues
DAYSONTHEHILL
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