News release

Health Ministers Work Together to Benefit Atlantic Canadians

Health (to Jan. 2011)

Atlantic Health Ministers met in Halifax today, Jan. 15, to collaborate on ways to benefit the health of Atlantic Canadians.

Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding ensuring cancer patients receive radiation therapy within eight weeks of being ready-to-treat. Provinces will support each other with therapy services, if they are unable to meet the timeline.

"Guaranteeing timely access to radiation therapy now and into the future is our commitment to cancer patients and their families," said Nova Scotia Health Minister Maureen MacDonald.

"Government has made significant investments in cancer care and our priority is providing patients with the care they need when and where they need it," said Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Health and Community Services, Jerome Kennedy.

"We will continue in our province to strive to meet the four-week national wait time benchmark for radiation therapy. This Memorandum of Understanding demonstrates our desire to work together to provide timely treatment for Atlantic Canadians."

"Today's signing is an indication of the government of P.E.I.'s commitment to patient services," said Prince Edward Island Minister of Health and Wellness Carolyn Bertram. "I'm pleased this agreement resulted as part of Prince Edward Island's patient wait-time guarantee pilot project and can be used as a template for future collaborative work."

New Brunswick Health Minister Mary Schryer said collaboration among the provinces is important. "New Brunswick is committed to the delivery of a sustainable health care system which is patient centered and focused on the delivery of quality and timely services. This Memorandum of Understanding complements our province's vision."

In Ottawa, Leona Aglukkaq, federal Minister of Health, said she is pleased that federal wait-time guarantee funding has helped to support this important work.

"Today's agreement goes a long way toward strengthening health care for Atlantic Canadians," said Ms. Aglukkaq. "It represents another solid step in our collaborative effort to ensure that Canadians have timely access to quality health care when they need it."

Ministers publicly acknowledged the tremendous efforts and dedication of the Atlantic health-care sector in responding to H1N1. They focused on vigilance and lessons learned for future emergency preparedness and planning.

Ministers also spoke of collective interests and best practices with a focus on pharmaceuticals, quality of care and patient safety, wellness and chronic disease management. They also acknowledged the work underway in Atlantic Canada in mental health with Ms. MacDonald offering to host a mental health summit in Nova Scotia.

"I think there is great potential for us to work together to find ways to promote more community-based care," said Ms. MacDonald.

All ministers agreed that the collaborative steps being taken not only strengthen their position when dealing with the federal government and health-care agencies, but also ensures that Atlantic Canadians continue to benefit from quality and safe practices in the health-care system.

The next Atlantic Health Ministers' meeting will take place in the summer.