February 2025 Health Report

By Kerry Gibson, Health Convenor

On January 10, 2025, Health Canada announced significant updates to the Canada Health Act (CHA). The Minister of Health emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to address challenges such as overwhelmed emergency rooms and lack of access to primary care providers. Historic investments totaling $200 billion have been made to strengthen public health care and ease the strain on provincial and territorial health care systems. The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) was launched, expanding coverage to nine million Canadians without dental care. Additionally, a pharmacare plan was introduced to make diabetes medications and contraceptives free for Canadians.

On January 15, 2025, the Government of Canada signed a bilateral agreement with New Brunswick to improve access to drugs for rare diseases. This agreement, worth over $32 million, aims to enhance access to selected new drugs and support early diagnosis and screening. Similarly, on January 10, 2025, a $40 million agreement was signed with Saskatchewan to improve access to drugs for rare diseases. These agreements are part of the National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases, which includes funding for drugs like Poteligeo, Oxlumo, and Epkinly.

The Government of Canada has been working to expand access to care by allowing nurse practitioners to diagnose, refer, and treat patients, tasks historically handled by primary care physicians. This change aims to address the shortage of primary care providers and ensure that patients receive the care they need without having to pay out of pocket. The new CHA Services Policy, which will come into effect on April 1, 2026, ensures that medically necessary services provided by regulated health professionals, such as nurse practitioners, will be covered by provincial or territorial health care plans. This policy aims to protect the publicly funded health care system and ensure equitable access to medically necessary care.