HESA Committee Report

For many years, Canadians from across the country have been increasingly concerned about wait times for health care. They worry about a lack of access to needed health services and products – such as home care and prescription drugs – and they want reforms to ensure that the health care system is effective, efficient, safe and equitable. In response to these concerns, First Ministers in September 2004 reached an historic agreement – the 10-Year Plan – to renew health care, improve access and enhance accountability to citizens. The plan committed federal, provincial and territorial (F/P/T) governments to move forward on a comprehensive and ambitious set of health care renewal initiatives, through collaboration on solving common problems. The plan recognized an asymmetrical federalism and established separate arrangements between the federal and Quebec governments. This report acknowledges this.

The shared agenda for health care reform envisioned under the 10-Year Plan encompassed ten components:

• reducing wait times and improving access;
• strategic health human resource action plans;
• home care;
• primary health care reform, including electronic health records and telehealth;
• access to care in the North;
• National Pharmaceuticals Strategy;
• prevention, promotion and public health;
• health innovation;
• accountability and reporting to citizens; and
• dispute avoidance and resolution.

In support of the 10-Year Plan, the federal government provided additional funding to the provinces and territories amounting to $41.3 billion over the 2004-05 through 2013-14 period. This funding includes $35.3 billion under the Canada Health Transfer (CHT), as well as targeted funds amounting to $5.5 billion under the Wait Time Reduction Fund and $500 million under the Medical Equipment Fund.

In undertaking this statutory review of the 10-Year Plan, Committee members asked two fundamental questions: What has been accomplished since 2004? What progress has been achieved by all levels of government for each of the ten components included in the plan?