Children’s Health Leaders Call on Health Ministers for Action

Ottawa, ON-

As Canada’s health ministers convene in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island this week, Children’s Healthcare Canada and the Pediatric Chairs of Canada are calling for the development of a comprehensive pan-Canadian child health strategy, emphasizing the need for immediate action and investment.

In a recent announcement, the Canadian government pledged 2 billion dollars (in connection with the Canada Health Transfer) aimed at addressing emergency, surgical and pediatric backlogs. This commitment was a vital step forward, recognizing the pressing issues faced by children and their families accessing essential healthcare services. Yet since the announcement, only two provinces (Ontario and Nova Scotia) have taken steps towards investing in and building capacity for children’s healthcare systems. This concerning lack of progress highlights the urgent need for collective action and commitment from all provinces and territories to ensure children receive the care they deserve.

Children and youth, along with their families, are facing prolonged and costly delays for essential and time-sensitive healthcare services. Astonishingly, in many regions, children now wait longer for these services than adults. The evidence points to the dire consequences of decades of chronic underinvestment in children’s health.

"No Child Elects to Wait," the first in a series of reports for Children’s Healthcare Canada by The Conference Board of Canada, has shed light on the repercussions of these overdrawn timelines. These delays significantly contribute to healthcare system costs, costs borne directly by families and adversely affect children’s health outcomes.

As Children’s Healthcare Canada embarks on a mission to “right-size” children’s healthcare, we urge government leaders to unite to forge systems- oriented solutions to improve access, address workforce shortages, and ultimately improve health outcomes. Government action plans should include developing and resourcing of a pan-Canadian child health strategy, establishing an office for a Chief Child Health Officer, and advancing a robust research agenda for maternal, child, and youth health.

Children’s Healthcare Canada and the Pediatric Chairs of Canada call on the federal government to take immediate action to make children’s health a priority. If we improve the health of children, we improve the health of Canada.

Media Contact:

Marjolaine Provost
mprovost@childrenshealthcarecanada.ca