Today, the Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Honourable Mark Holland, Canada’s Minister of Health, and the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Canada’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced a bilateral agreement to invest almost $256 million to improve health care access and services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Through the Working Together Agreement, the Government of Canada will provide nearly $256 million to support Newfoundland and Labrador’s three-year action plan to deliver improvements to its health care system. The plan will:

• Expand access to family health services

• • Increase access to primary care by continuing to add new family care teams, creating urgent care centres to service the Northeast Avalon, and adding new positions to implement the Child and Youth Community Health Services Model.

• Increase health workers and health services to reduce backlogs

• • Institute models of care that address surgical backlogs and increase access to health services, including by expanding orthopedic surgeries in Carbonear.
  • Support models of care that enable health care providers, including pharmacists, to expand their scope of practice by prescribing more medications.
  • Pilot a new physician assistants program and continue to increase midwifery positions across the province.
  • Increase the number of targeted incentive programs for difficult to fill positions and increase programs designed to increase retention of health care workers, including programs to support career development.
  • Add new undergraduate medical education seats and new Family Medical Residency positions for international medical graduates at Memorial University.

• Increase mental health and substance use services

• • Increase the number of people with access to mental health teams.
  • Improve access to services for rural and Indigenous communities and offer community-based services, substance use support, and innovative online mental health services.

• Modernize health data systems to ensure more patients can access care

• • Increase the number of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who can access their own health record electronically.
  • Expand virtual care for rural and remote communities.
  • Implement a province-wide emergency response dispatch centre.

Progress on these initiatives and broader commitments will be measured against targets which Newfoundland and Labrador will publicly report on annually.

Through this new agreement, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will work with the Government of Canada to improve how health information is collected, shared, used and reported to; streamline foreign credential recognition for internationally educated health professionals; facilitate the mobility of key health professionals within Canada; and fulfill shared responsibilities to uphold the Canada Health Act to protect Canadians’ access to health care based on need, not the ability, to pay.

Recognizing the significant disparities in Indigenous health outcomes, the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador also commit to meaningfully engaging and working together with Indigenous partners to support improved access to quality and culturally appropriate health care services. Newfoundland and Labrador’s action plan is informed by continued engagement with its Indigenous partners and supported by trilateral discussions involving the Federal Government. All levels of government will approach health decisions in their respective jurisdictions through a lens that promotes respect and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

Newfoundland and Labrador and the Federal Government will continue working together to improve health services for all patients across the province, including responding to the needs of rural, remote, Indigenous and other underserved and disadvantaged populations.

Quotes
“We are proud to be transforming health care in Newfoundland and Labrador based on the recommendations of Health Accord NL. We are grateful for agreements with the Federal Government, such as this Working Together Agreement, that allow us to build on what we have already accomplished and to continue to create more family care teams, recruit more health care professionals, and increase health care services to more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Our government is committed to improving the health and well-being of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Our best-in-class recruitment efforts are working. Family care teams and virtual care are ensuring more people get the care they need when the need it. We are increasing supports and access to mental health and addictions services to those most in need. By working together with our Federal partners and our stakeholders, we will continue to lead in modernizing and transforming health care, for the betterment of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“This agreement marks a significant advancement for our health care system, promising improved care for residents and improving the overall resilience of our health care infrastructure. Tailored to Newfoundland and Labrador’s unique requirements, this agreement ensures enhanced health care services for all residents.”
Honourable Mark Holland
Minister of Health

“Under the Working Together agreement, we’re partnering with Newfoundland and Labrador to improve mental health and substance use services for residents, including Indigenous communities, focusing on culturally informed care to improve access to quality and timely mental health and substance use supports. Together, we must ensure that all Canadians have access to supports and services for their mental health and well-being – when they need them, wherever they need them.”
Honourable Ya’ara Saks
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health

“From the tip of the Torngats to St. John’s Harbour, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians young and old need quality health care. This plan will make sure folks have access to the care that meets their needs, in communities large and small.”
Honourable Gudie Hutchings
Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

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