Citation
(2002), "Canada. Canadian-American agreement on indigenous health", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 15 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2002.06215eab.008
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
Canada. Canadian-American agreement on indigenous health
Canada
Canadian-American agreement on indigenous health
Canadian Minister of Health A. Anne McLellan has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson to improve the health status of indigenous communities through enhanced international collaborations, identification and reinforcement of best practices, and through innovative approaches to learning opportunities. The signing ceremony took place during the first day of the 55th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, in April.
The MOU will focus on improving health care, delivery and access to the First Nation and Inuit people of Canada and to the American Indians and Alaska natives of the USA.
The agreement allows for a more efficient exchange of information and personnel between the USA and Canada, and calls for establishing workshops, seminars and meetings on issues surrounding indigenous health. Additionally, a comprehensive work plan will be developed to address specific health management factors such as financial health management systems, telemedicine and tele-health capabilities, chronic disease collaboration, indigenous health support mechanisms, co-ordination with outside agencies and approaches to health care delivery.
The American's Indian Health Service (IHS) will administer the activities under the MOU for the USA. The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for American Indian and Alaska Native people. It works with tribal and urban programmes to provide health services to approximately 1.5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to more than 560 federally recognised tribes in 35 states. For Canada, the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch is the IHS counterpart. It works with more than 600 First Nations and Inuit communities, other Health Canada branches, and other Canadian government departments to provide health programmes and services to address health disparities.