Canadians deserve a health care system that gives them rapid access to health services when and where they need them, while also having the opportunity to age with dignity close to home.

Today, the Honorable Mark Holland, Minister of Health of Canada, and the Honorable John Main, Minister of Health of Nunavut, announced two bilateral agreements that provide a total investment of more than $35.6 million to improve health services and access in Nunavut .

As part of the agreement CollaborateThe Government of Canada will initially provide more than $23.6 million to support Nunavut’s three-year action plan to improve its health system. This plan includes the following elements:

• Improve coordination and access to primary care across all regions
  • Increase the number of Inuit in healthcare positions through an Inuit radiology technician program with 150 graduates over three years and by enrolling 5 Inuit in a radiology training program.
  • Create assessment tools for remote and isolated communities to understand what communities need based on population size and health needs. These tools will help create primary health care teams in remote areas.
  • Expand the existing paramedicine program, established in 2021 to support primary care programs in community health centers, to all 25 communities in Nunavut. Nunavut will also create a Paramedic Practice Consultant position that will support the integration of paramedics into communities;
  • Support Qikiqtani General Hospital in Nunavut by supporting the new obstetrics and gynecology program, recruiting additional surgeons, expanding cardiology services, and investing in nurse pilot programs.
• Support healthcare workforce recruitment, retention and training initiatives and reduce backlogs
  • Conduct a major recruitment campaign to attract nurses and improve the nursing education program.
  • Address orthopedic needs by purchasing a CT scanner, portable MRI machine and C-arm to increase the number of medical procedures in the region and reduce the number of patients needing to travel to Ottawa , which will help reduce waiting times.
• Expand the availability of culturally appropriate mental health and addictions services and specialized care
  • Support support worker training to ensure Inuit people in Nunavut have access to mental health services and programs adapted to their culture and language.
  • Continue to host annual trauma symposiums to equip frontline workers with the tools and skills they need to help community members, especially children and youth, overcome trauma.

As part of the Aging with Dignity Agreement, the Government of Canada will provide more than $12 million to support Nunavut’s five-year action plan to help people age with dignity close to home and Having access to care at home or in secure long-term care. Long-term care facility. This funding will achieve the following:

• Fund reviews, expansions and services of home and community care programs
  • Conduct a comprehensive review to guide organizational expansions and changes to assist in recruiting and training additional employees. The focus is on hiring Inuit and increasing service hours.
  • Improving workforce competencies, including supporting nursing students through online courses and in-person training, with the goal of providing high-quality care to Nunavummiut in all 25 communities and helping them maintain their independence and well-being.
• Strengthen the stability of your workforce
  • In collaboration with Nunavut Arctic College, continue to develop a tailored personal care worker training program to improve the skills of home care, community care and continuing care workers in Nunavut while supporting their continuing education;
  • Enable nurses to provide virtual care for long-term care facilities.
• Improving standards in long-term care
  • Supporting Nunavut in meeting new national standards for long-term care by improving culturally competent care, providing Inuit-friendly advice to residents outside the territory, and addressing organizational challenges in the Department of Home Care and Continuing Care facilities.

Progress on these large-scale initiatives and commitments will be measured against targets that Nunavut publicly announces annually.

Under these new agreements, the governments of Canada and Nunavut will work together to improve the way health information is collected, shared, used and communicated. simplifying the recognition of foreign qualifications for internationally trained health professionals; Facilitating the mobility of key health workers in Canada; and will take shared responsibility to ensure respect Canadian Health Act to protect Canadians’ access to health care based on their need rather than their ability to pay.

Recognizing the significant gaps in Inuit health outcomes, the governments of Canada and Nunavut are also committed to working meaningfully with their Inuit partners to improve access to high-quality, culturally-adapted health services. Nunavut’s action plan is based on the continued commitment of its Inuit partners and recent trilateral discussions involving the federal government. All levels of government, within their respective jurisdictions, will make health-related decisions in a manner that promotes respect and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Nunavut and the federal government will continue to work together to improve health care for all patients in the Territory, including meeting the needs of Inuit peoples and other underserved and disadvantaged populations.