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CFNU asks federal government to support innovation in the public health care system

Publication date: 
Wed, 2011-11-02

 

 

 

The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions asks federal government to support innovation in the public health care system

 

Ottawa, October 20, 2011 – Yesterday, as part of the pre-budget consultation process of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, Pauline Worsfold, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), made on behalf of nurses three recommendations for Budget 2012, that will make, if implemented, a difference in the lives of patients today and ensure a skilled, stable nursing workforce for tomorrow. 

”The health of families is key to Canada’s economic potential and Canadians’ quality of life, and the federal government needs a health action plan to reinforce the economic action plan”, said Pauline Worsfold, Secretary-Treasurer of the CFNU.

In its pre-budget submission, the CFNU put forward three recommendations. The first two focused on ensuring a highly skilled and stable health care workforce. The third recommendation is for a national pharmacare program.

 

1) Create a Health Worker Innovation Fund to undertake projects and programs that test, evaluate, and replicate new models of care delivery in the public system.
- Research shows that investing in health care workplaces can reduce turnover, reduce absenteeism and improve patient outcomes. 
 
2) Expand existing education and training initiatives to target health care workers.  Specifically, the CFNU is calling for an apprenticeship-like program for job laddering in the health care sector, and for the extension of the federal student loan forgiveness program for doctors and nurses upgrading skills.  
- Allowing health care students the option to enter into the workforce at various stages of training would be of particular value for engaging Aboriginal Canadians and internationally educated health care workers in skills upgrading.
 
3) Enter into a cost-sharing program with provinces and territories to create a national pharmacare program. 
- Canadians do not have universal access to drugs, spending out-of-pocket $4.5 billion in 2010. Prescription drugs cost 30% more than the OECD average. 
 
The recommendations made by the CFNU, other presenters and the Committee will be considered by the Minister of Finance in the development of the 2012 Federal Budget. 

Find CFNU’s pre-budget submission here.

 

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For more information, contact Pamela Foster at 613-292-9106.