OTTAWA – HEALTH – “The antidote to #Suicide and #Poverty is #Investment” – that was the message to Ministers Philpott (Health) and Morreau (Finance).
This week I had the opportunity to provide key health and poverty strategy documents to key federal ministers.
The current level of health funding to First Nations is Canada is approx 3B$ – the shortfall in bringing that up to par as of 2017 is 1.58B$ — not included in that figure is the outstanding cost to mitigate the shortfalls in the NIHB (Non-Insured Health Benefits) program — which have been under joint review for a couple of years.
The FNHTA (First Nation Health Transformation Agenda), was released to the federal Ministers this week to begin the effort toward increasing both the health envelope investment; and to increase health outcomes for First Nations that is more inline with the health standards and quality of services that are afforded to Canadians.
This work is a progressive effort that is ongoing and includes many partners, jurisdictions and levels and layers of First Nation Health experts and authorities.
The federal budget is expected to come down in early to mid-March. The National Chief, the Health Team at the Assembly of First Nations and our National Chiefs Committee on Health will be continuing our efforts to help influence the decisions of the Health Minister on major policy commitments and ultimately the Finance Minister on mitigating the current First Nation health envelope.
We will keep you posted!
Miigwetch
Isadore Day, Wiindawtegowinini
AFN National Health Portfolio
Chair – Chiefs Committee on Health
Ontario Regional Chief
