Government Response to the 5th
Report of the Standing Committee on Health
“First Nations and Inuit
Dental Health”
November 2003
INTRODUCTION
The Government of Canada is
pleased to have this opportunity to respond to the fifth Report of the Standing
Committee on Health, First Nations and Inuit Dental Health, which was
tabled in the House of Commons on June 18, 2003. The report, which focuses on the need for increased preventive
measures to curtail the negative effects of poor oral health among First Nations
and Inuit in Canada and client consent issues from the Non-Insured Health
Benefits (NIHB) Program, reflects the testimony from witnesses and the work of
committee members. It also demonstrates
a commitment from Members of Parliament and the important role that Parliament
can play in addressing the needs of First Nations and Inuit across the country.
The government values the work
of the standing committee. In
particular, the contribution of the report in highlighting many important
issues affecting First Nations and Inuit oral health and the identification of
potential areas for improvement.
Interested stakeholders had the opportunity to voice their perspectives
and concerns and their contribution is important to our ongoing efforts to
improve client access and health outcomes.
Overall, the report is timely and makes a valuable contribution to the
national dialogue on how to address the gap in life chances and health status
between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.
The challenges facing First
Nations and Inuit oral health are documented in the report with references to
other contributing factors, including: support for increased food access in
remote areas; building capacity among dental health providers; and, greater
access to clean potable water with optimal fluoride levels. The government shares the concerns of the
standing committee and agrees that improving health among First Nations and
Inuit, including their oral health, is important and essential to building
strong, healthy First Nations and Inuit communities. The Government of Canada is committed to building strong
partnerships with First Nations and Inuit and dental care providers to improve
the health system, and to ensure the availability of, and access to, health
services for First Nations and Inuit.
The information presented in
the report complements, and supports, the current government approach in moving
beyond pathology and treatment and placing an increased focus on health
promotion and disease prevention activities.
The approach is consistent with the Population Health Approach
which recognizes the health status of a population is a reflection not only of
their health but of other factors, including economic, social and physical
environments and personal health practices.
The report’s contents are also consistent with government commitments,
particularly recent investments during the formative years of an individual’s
life, announced in the Speeches from the Throne in January 2001 and September
2002.
The Speeches from the Throne
confirmed the government’s commitment to close the gap in health status between
Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians and strengthen the delivery of health
care services to First Nations and Inuit by championing community-based health
promotion and disease prevention programs.
This includes investments in: a targeted immunization strategy for First
Nations children; an increase in early childhood development initiatives with
an expansion of Aboriginal Head Start (AHS); and, tools to address fetal
alcohol syndrome/fetal alcohol effects (FAS/FAE) in Aboriginal
communities.
Earlier this year, the
government committed $1.3 billion over five years in funding to address program
sustainability issues within the First Nations and Inuit health system. This will include funds to address
increasing program costs due to cost drivers such as: population increases;
rate of disease burden; increased benefit utilization; and, professional fee
increases. Complementary initiatives
such as the National Health Human Resources Initiative, and the Food Mail
Program also contribute to improving the professional capacity and environment
which supports and facilitates oral health promotion and disease prevention.
Delivering health care is a
shared responsibility between the federal government, the provinces and
territories, and First Nations and Inuit.
The provinces and territories are responsible for: universal hospital
and physician services to all residents, including Aboriginal people; public
health and community programs for all residents living off-reserve;
supplementary insurance for key populations; long term, nursing homes and
community care; and, the regulation of health services and professions. Health Canada operates a major health care
delivery system for an estimated 735,000 eligible First Nations and Inuit. This includes: public health and community
health programs on all reserves; primary care in remote and isolated
communities; some targeted programs for all Aboriginal people; and, health benefits
through the NIHB Program to all status Indians and recognized Inuit regardless
of residency. Through effective
collaboration, service gaps and redundancies will be eliminated which will lead
to the provision of higher quality services, including oral health.