Question Period Note: PRIMARY CARE

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

• 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.
• Going forward, as outlined in Budget 2022, the Government of Canada will remain focused on advancing the priorities of Canadians in health, including access to the readily available, high-quality primary care services we all deserve.
• This includes increasing the maximum amount of forgivable Canada Student Loans for doctors and nurses who work in underserved rural and remote areas by 50%, to help bring more health care providers to the communities that need them most.

IF PRESSED ON SUPPORT TO PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES FOR PRIMARY CARE …
• Over the last two years, our Government has worked with provinces and territories to accelerate uptake and use of virtual care, supported by over $240M in funding.
• 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.
• This was just one of the many ways in which we have supported provincial and territorial health systems over the last two years, with roughly eight out of every ten dollars invested in Canada’s pandemic response coming from the federal government.
• Now, thanks to Canada’s strong economic recovery, the Canada Health Transfer is projected to provide provinces and territories with $12 billion more in over the next 5 years, as compared to what was expected prior to the pandemic.

IF PRESSED ON FUNDING FOR ACCESS TO CARE IN UNDERSERVED/REMOTE COMMUNITIES …
• Our government is making targeted investments to increase the number of doctors and nurses in underserved rural and remote communities, in response to disparities in access to primary care faced in these areas.
• Budget 2022 proposes to provide $26.2 million over four years, and $7 million per year thereafter, to increase the maximum amount of forgivable Canada Student Loans for doctors and nurses who work in underserved rural and remote communities, including the North, by 50%.
• This will mean up to $30,000 in loan forgiveness for nurses and up to $60,000 for doctors working in these communities

Primary care is the backbone of high-performing health care systems. It serves a dual function in the health care 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 provider.

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. Concurrently, Health Canada has been collaborating with provinces, territories and other partners to identify ways in which virtual care can be leveraged to support access to and delivery of high-quality care, including within the context of primary care.

Budget 2022 signalled a continued need to strengthen the health care system and ensure it delivers the care that Canadians deserve by increasing the number of doctors and nurses. To help bring more health care workers to the communities that need them most, Budget 2022 proposes to provide $26.2 million over four years, starting in 2023-24, and $7 million ongoing, to increase the maximum amount of forgivable Canada Student Loans by 50% for doctors and nurses who work in underserved rural or remote communities, including in the North. This will mean up to $30,000 in loan forgiveness for nurses and up to $60,000 in loan forgiveness for doctors working in underserved rural or remote communities. In addition, the federal government will expand the current list of eligible professionals under the program, with details to be announced in the coming year. The government is also undertaking a review to ensure that the definition of rural communities under the program does not leave out certain communities in need,

Budget 2022 also confirmed federal interest in continuing to expand virtual care and improving access to high-quality primary care. Health Canada will continue to work with provinces, territories and other partners in this regard.

KEY FACTS
o In Election 2021, our Government committed to continuing work to support primary and virtual care, including through:
o Support to PTs for hiring doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners;
o Continued work to expand access to virtual care; and
o Expanding access to family doctors and primary health teams in rural areas.