Question Period Note: PRIMARY CARE

• The Government of Canada recognizes that primary care plays a critical role in the delivery of healthcare services for Canadians and is the backbone to high performing healthcare systems.

• In 2020, the Prime Minister committed $240.5M to help Canadian health systems to support access to health care services, including primary care, through virtual approaches and digital tools.

• The Government of Canada is committed to improving access to high-quality primary care and continues to work with provinces and territories in this regard.

KEY MESSAGES

• The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of high-quality primary care and acknowledges that many Canadians are still struggling to access the care they need in a timely manner.

• In 2020, the Prime Minister committed $240.5M to help Canadian health system to support access to health care services and meet the health care needs of Canadians through virtual approaches and digital tools, including supporting access to primary care, particularly in northern, rural and remote communities.
• Going forward, the Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories to support the delivery of and access to high-quality primary care in Canada.
IF PRESSED ON FUNDING FOR PRIMARY CARE

• The Government of Canada is working with provinces and territories to support the rapid uptake and use of virtual care services, supported by $150M in funding through bilateral agreements.

• Supporting the expansion of virtual care in Canada provides Canadians with new ways to access the primary care services on which they rely, while reducing pressure on in-person health services during the pandemic.
• Through this investment, we have been able to work jointly with provinces and territories to develop secure messaging and information-sharing platforms, secure video-conferencing technology, remote patient monitoring tools, ensuring access to COVID-19 and other lab results.

• We will continue to work with provinces and territories to identify innovative ways to support improved access to high-quality primary care services.

Primary care is the backbone of high-performing healthcare systems. It serves a dual function in the healthcare system as the direct provision of first-contact services and a coordination function to ensure continuity across health care settings. However, Canadians continue to struggle to access primary care. In 2020, 14.2% of Canadians 12 years and over lacked a regular health care provider1.

Health is a shared responsibility in Canada, with the federal government and the provinces and territories having distinct roles. While primary responsibility for delivery of health care services to Canadians falls within provincial and territorial jurisdiction, the federal government sets and administers national standards for publicly insured health services through the Canada Health Act, and provides funding support for provincial and territorial health care services through the Canada Health Transfer. Therefore, the department continues to work closely with FPT partners to advance primary care priorities.

Virtual care is increasingly recognized as an important component of high-quality care and can help support access to primary care, particularly in northern, rural and remote communities. The adoption of virtual care accelerated as a health system response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to sustain access to primary care and specialist health services. On May 3, 2020, the Prime Minister announced $240.5M to support virtual care and digital tools for Canadians. $150M of this funding is being provided to provinces and territories through bilateral agreements to enhance virtual services.

Health Canada has been collaborating with provinces, territories and other partners to identify ways in which primary care system could be strengthened to:
• Ensure every Canadian has timely access to a family practitioner, and
• Leverage virtual care to support access to and delivery of high-quality healthcare, including within the context of primary care.

In Election 2021, our Government outlined continued support for primary and virtual care. These election promises include:
• $3.2B to PTs for hiring 7,500 new doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners;
• $6B to support the elimination of health system waitlists;
• $400M (over 4 years) to improve access to virtual care; and,
• Expanding access to family doctors and primary health teams in rural areas.

1Statistics Canada. Table 13-10-0096-16 Has a regular healthcare provider, by age group https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310009616

KEY FACTS

• In Election 2021, our Government outlined continued support for primary and virtual care. These election promises include:
o $3.2B to PTs for hiring 7,500 new doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners;
o $6B to support the elimination of health system waitlists;
o $400M (over 4 years) to improve access to virtual care; and,
o Expanding access to family doctors and primary health teams in rural areas.