PREVENTATIVE HEALTH INITIATIVES (2005 – Revised 2007)
In order to ensure BC citizens health and wellness, our healthcare industry requires new and better tools and leadership in providing for, and defining, preventative healthcare measurements for British Columbians.
Premier Gordon Campbell has recently set out a mandate for BC citizens to endeavour to become the healthiest and fittest citizens to host an Olympic event. During Budget 2006, the government instructed all ministries to link their service plans to the Five Great Goals for the Golden Decade. They are:
1. to make British Columbia the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent;
2. to lead the way in North America in healthy living and physical fitness;
3. to build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, those with special needs, children at risk, and seniors;
4. to lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management, bar none; and
5. to create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada.
Currently, the majority of health funding in the province is used to support treatment-based healthcare. Preventative healthcare is imperative in ensuring our citizens have an opportunity to meet the goal as laid out by the Premier. While the government maintains the government health caucus committee, there is a need for all members of the health services sector -– including inter alia pharmacists, medical, nursing, chiropractic, homeopathic, massage therapists, physiotherapists and other health practitioners – to work together on an action plan. This plan should focus on preventative measures, to help British Columbians become healthier, fitter and attain the Premier’s goals. This, of course, would result in many financial benefits to business in terms of fewer sick days, overall productivity, and to the province in terms of a reduction in the requirement for treatment-based healthcare.
THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS:
That the provincial government:
1. establish a Preventative Health Care Task Force, which would involve the full participation of members appointed from the entire health services sector including, but not limited to, medical, nursing, chiropractic, pharmacists, homeopathic, massage therapists, physiotherapists and other health and fitness practitioners. These professionals would study and provide an action plan in the form of a report in order to create and implement a process to help British Columbians on a preventative basis become healthier and fitter;
2. that the Health Caucus Committee continue to promote public awareness and ensure public participation in accordance with the plan and recommendations of the task force;
3. continue to focus efforts on innovative health promotion and disease prevention initiatives and implementing programs to reduce the growth of chronic diseases;
4. as per the Ministry of Health strategic plan for 2007 to improve immunization rates for children and the elderly, including taking advantage of the new monies made available through the federal government’s 2007 Budget; and
In order to ensure BC citizens health and wellness, our healthcare industry requires new and better tools and leadership in providing for, and defining, preventative healthcare measurements for British Columbians.
Premier Gordon Campbell has recently set out a mandate for BC citizens to endeavour to become the healthiest and fittest citizens to host an Olympic event. During Budget 2006, the government instructed all ministries to link their service plans to the Five Great Goals for the Golden Decade. They are:
1. to make British Columbia the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent;
2. to lead the way in North America in healthy living and physical fitness;
3. to build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, those with special needs, children at risk, and seniors;
4. to lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management, bar none; and
5. to create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada.
Currently, the majority of health funding in the province is used to support treatment-based healthcare. Preventative healthcare is imperative in ensuring our citizens have an opportunity to meet the goal as laid out by the Premier. While the government maintains the government health caucus committee, there is a need for all members of the health services sector -– including inter alia pharmacists, medical, nursing, chiropractic, homeopathic, massage therapists, physiotherapists and other health practitioners – to work together on an action plan. This plan should focus on preventative measures, to help British Columbians become healthier, fitter and attain the Premier’s goals. This, of course, would result in many financial benefits to business in terms of fewer sick days, overall productivity, and to the province in terms of a reduction in the requirement for treatment-based healthcare.
THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS:
That the provincial government:
1. establish a Preventative Health Care Task Force, which would involve the full participation of members appointed from the entire health services sector including, but not limited to, medical, nursing, chiropractic, pharmacists, homeopathic, massage therapists, physiotherapists and other health and fitness practitioners. These professionals would study and provide an action plan in the form of a report in order to create and implement a process to help British Columbians on a preventative basis become healthier and fitter;
2. that the Health Caucus Committee continue to promote public awareness and ensure public participation in accordance with the plan and recommendations of the task force;
3. continue to focus efforts on innovative health promotion and disease prevention initiatives and implementing programs to reduce the growth of chronic diseases;
4. as per the Ministry of Health strategic plan for 2007 to improve immunization rates for children and the elderly, including taking advantage of the new monies made available through the federal government’s 2007 Budget; and
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