Standing Committee on Public Accounts

HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6

Comité permanent des comptes publics

For immediate release

Ottawa, April 28, 2008 -

The Canadian Forces do not have the information available that would allow them to assess the effectiveness of the military health care system, according to a report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts tabled in the House of Commons today by Chair Shawn Murphy, MP.

In 2007, the Office of the Auditor General conducted an audit of the Department of National Defence’s management of military health care services and found a number of weaknesses, such as a lack of information on how well the system is performing or how to assess the quality of care. Also, National Defence was unable to demonstrate that all of its military health care professionals are licensed, certified or had maintained their qualifications to practice.

The Committee believes that National Defence must put in place the structures, policies, and practices to ensure that Members of the Canadian forces receive quality health care. The Committee recommended that National Defence provide reports on its progress in doing so and include more information about the military health care system in its performance reports.

“Members of the Canadian Forces serve their country honourably by being willing to put their lives at risk,” said Mr. Murphy. “They deserve to receive high quality health care services that are well managed.”