Reducing Health Disparities - Roles of the Health Sector: Recommended Policy Directions and Activities Prepared by the Health Disparities Task Group of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Advisory Committee on Population Health and Health Security December 2004 PDF version (10 pages, 115 KB)

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The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Table Of Contents

• Introduction
• Overview Of Health Disparities In Canada
  • Definition and Description
  • Consequences
• Reducing Health Disparities
  • Where Canada Stands
  • Where and How to Focus Change
• Moving Forward
• Recommended Health Sector Policy Directions And Activities To Address Health Disparities
  1. Make Health Disparities Reduction a Health Sector Priority
  2. Integrate Disparities Reduction into Health Programs and Services
  3. Engage with Other Sectors in Health Disparities Reduction
  4. Strengthen Knowledge Development and Exchange Activities
• Conclusion

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©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Health (2005) Cat. N° HP5-3/2005 ISBN 0-662-69312-4

Introduction

Canadians are among the healthiest people in the world, but some groups of Canadians are not as healthy as others. Major health disparities exist throughout the country. As in other countries around the world, there is an increasing emphasis in Canada on the need to adopt policies and take other actions to reduce them.

• The 2002 and 2003 First Ministers' Health Accords made national commitments to reducing health disparities. At the 2004 First Ministers' Meeting, a special meeting with Aboriginal leaders resulted in specific measures to address disparities in the health status of Aboriginal peoples.

• Ministers of Health have committed to advancing the Integrated Pan-Canadian Healthy Living Strategy, which established health disparities reduction as one of its two goals.

As directed by the FPT Conference of Deputy Ministers of Health, this paper contains policy advice with respect to the roles of the health sector in addressing health disparities. It is intended to be used as a guide for FPT health jurisdictions to address health disparities over time. The recommended directions are based on the fuller considerations and analysis of the companion paper, Reducing Health Disparities - Roles of the Health Sector: A Discussion Paper, overseen by the Health Disparities Task Group (HDTG) and reflecting input from many individuals and organizations. It should be noted that although Quebec shares the general goals of the Pancanadian Healthy Living Strategy and most of this document analysis, it was not involved in developing them because it intends to remain solely responsible for developing an implementing programs for reducing health disparities within its territory. However, Quebec does intend to continue exchanging information and expertise with other governments in Canada.

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