CMAJ News

New health minister promises open door, pledges to work with doctors

anada’s new Health Minister tus of women in strengthening family integrated within the provincial health attempted to violence prevention initiatives, an issue care system. C mend her predecessor’s some - she promised to continue to champion. Ambrose quickly reiterated her gov - times strained relationship with the “Family violence is a health issue,” ernment’s commitment to a strong, pub - country’s leading doctors in an Aug. 19 Ambrose told the doctors. “Last year a licly funded medicare system “guided speech to the Canadian Medical Associ - report from Justice Canada found by the Canada Health Act,” although ation. In particular, she promised to she stressed the need to improve listen to and work with physicians, productivity and find more effi - and to have an open-door policy for ciencies — phrases often aligned their representatives to discuss the with the pressure to allow more nation’s pressing health issues, par - privatization of services. ticularly family violence. “I believe we are at a critical “As the new minister of health, I point where we must improve the come to the job with an open mind n productivity of the health system o i t a i and with a spirit of collaboration,” c and improve the health of Canadi - o s s

Ambrose told more than 300 doc - A ans together,” she said.

l a c tors and other health care profes - i Ambrose also stressed the d e M sionals at the Canadian Medical federal government’s role in n a i

Association (CMA) 146th annual d funding research and innovation, a n general meeting in Calgary, . a an area in health care policy that C In contrast to former health min - Prime Minister Health Minister Rona Ambrose says she has come to ister , Ambrose her new job “with an open mind and with a spirit of and his cabinet colleagues have promised to spend the entire day at collaboration.” championed. Ambrose’s speech the conference, attending education signalled that research and devel - sessions and meeting with the CMA’s spousal violence alone cost society at opment funding will be targeted, how - executive committee, and also talk to least $7.4 billion annually. Of that total, ever, in a particular direction: how delegates to get “perspectives from the an estimated $6 billion accounts for technology can drive productivity in front line.” health care costs for medical treatment the health system and provide incen - “I want to hear from you one-on-one,” and psychological services.” tives for more cost-effective health she said. “As a new minister, I think lis - In 2012 in Calgary alone, Ambrose care interventions. tening is better than telling you what I said police investigated 329 cases of “This is the policy challenge that I know about the health care system.” severe sexual and physical abuse of believe is worthy of federal leadership Ambrose’s tone was conciliatory, and children under 17. and an area I believe we can make gains she sprinkled her speech with references “Aboriginal women are three-and- (in) together.” to partnerships and the importance of the a-half times more likely than non- Ambrose’s speech did not include any CMA’s advocacy for better health care Aboriginal women to be victims of vio - funding announcements and steered clear on behalf of , and praised doc - lence,” she added. She urged doctors to of setting new policy directions. Instead, tors for their leadership on issues rang - recognize the signs of family violence, she peppered it with personal references ing from mental health care to improv - report it and ensure their patients get to her own style — such as being a self- ing the social determinants of health. the treatment and support they need. described “policy wonk” who plans to In recent months, the CMA and Ambrose has asked the Public dive into the critical issues, and her per - other leading health care organizations Health Agency of Canada to identify sonal commitment to staying healthy, as have complained that they received no opportunities within its budget that evidenced by her recent vacation back - response to letters or requests for meet - could help end family violence. packing 70 km in the Rocky Mountains. ings from Aglukkaq on issues of con - The minister also pledged to The speech was a clear exercise in cern, particularly the federal govern - improve health care for First Nations relationship building — a shift in direc - ment’s stance on refugee health care. and Canadians, citing British tion sure to appeal to the health care Significantly, Ambrose avoided any Columbia’s Tripartite First Nations leaders who had previously felt their mention of Ottawa’s cuts to health cov - Health Plan as a model she hopes the advocacy unappreciated by this govern - erage for refugees a year ago. rest of Canada can learn from. It ment. — Laura Eggertson, CMAJ The new health minister emphasized involves Aboriginal Canadians in the her former role as minister for the sta - design and delivery of health care that is CMAJ 2013. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.109-4584

© 2013 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors CMAJ, September 17, 2013, 185(13) E615