$2.4 million in funding will help healthcare providers, patients, their families and communities collaborate to develop information tools and resources.

August 30, 2024 | Ottawa, ON | Health Canada

Palliative care services are an important part of the health care system and can improve the quality of life and overall health of many people with serious illness. Many Canadians find it difficult to talk to family and health care providers about serious illness, death and end-of-life care. These conversations are facilitated by developing health care providers’ communication skills and providing patients with access to information. This allows patients to access mainstream palliative care earlier in the course of their illness, allowing them to access the help and resources they need to manage their symptoms, reduce their suffering and improve their physical and mental health.

Today, Health Minister Mark Holland announced that he will provide $2.4 million over three years to McMaster University to develop programs and educational materials to facilitate faster access to palliative care. This funding will enable researchers to work with health care providers, patients and their families, and communities and organizations to co-create solutions tailored to diverse needs and experiences, ensuring that the resources produced bear the stamp of the valuable viewpoints and opinions of each party.

The Government of Canada’s Palliative Care Action Plan aims to improve the quality of life of people with serious illness, access to palliative care, and the quality of care and efficiency of the health care system. The McMaster University project supports the goals of the Action Plan and is another important step in improving palliative care skills and resources for health care providers, patients and their families, caregivers, and communities. The goal of these resources is to increase awareness of advance care planning as well as palliative care itself, provide explanations on these topics, and improve access to palliative care for populations with limited access to palliative care services.

The Government of Canada continues to work with provinces, territories, organizations, people with serious illnesses, caregivers and communities to provide essential resources so that all Canadians, including those most at risk, can benefit from quality palliative care.