Canada’s nurses ask health ministers to ‘break the silos’ with new Health and Social Accord.

The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions has called for co-ordinated action among governments to “break the silos in health care” and understand that funding for local hospitals, home care services and programs to ensure kids don’t go hungry all have an impact on the health of Canadians and the overall cost of health care.

“Having only a narrow focus on delivery of health care in hospitals does not go far enough,” said CFNU President Linda Silas.

“We need leadership,” she said today from the meeting of Canadian health ministers in Vancouver. “Canadians pay more for prescription drugs than nearly every other developed country, our seniors don’t have access to the care they need, and nurses are working millions of overtime hours each year, with no rational plan in sight.”

CFNU asked 50 health care stakeholders to consult on what should be part of a new federal-provincial agreement and presented their recommendations to provincial health ministers in Vancouver today. The same recommendations will be given to the federal government.

CFNU urges continued commitment to the principles of the Canada Health Act, but also calls for expansion of the Health Accord to include a social accord that recognizes the need for co-ordinated action on improving social determinants of health.

CFNU’s call for a national Health and Social Accord includes the following policies:

• Stable federal health care funding to a minimum of 25 per cent by 2025
• Co-ordinated health human resources planning
• National prescription drug plan (pharmacare)
• National strategy for healthy aging
• Better access to mental health services
• Improved mental health services in home and community settings

Click here to read CFNU’s full news release.