Health professionals seek action on national HR shortages
Long-term strategy needed, says CHPS co-chair Elisabeth Ballermann
Ottawa (8 May 2008) – Representatives of the Canadian Health
Professionals Secretariat (CHPS) gathered in Ottawa recently to assess
public policy and labour relations developments over the last six months
and to map the course ahead for Canada’s health professionals.
Among the issues covered during the May 1-2 meeting was an overriding
concern about the significant and growing shortage of health
professionals across the country and the need for a long-term national
health human resources strategy.
“Canadians expect timely and quality health care services, but those
expectations will never be met unless governments address the severe
shortages of health professionals,” says CHPS co-chair Elisabeth
Ballermann.
"Whatever else governments try to do in health care, unless there is a
long-term national strategy to ensure a stable and adequate supply of
skilled health professionals, they will not resolve the problems,” adds
Ballermann.
Representatives at the CHPS meeting heard a presentation from Mr. Kurt
Davis, the Executive Director of the Canadian Society for Medical
Laboratory Science (CSMLS). The CSMLS is the national certifying body
for medical laboratory technologists and medical laboratory assistants
and the national professional association for Canada’s medical
laboratory professionals.
The CSMLS estimates that over half of Canada’s medical laboratory
technologists will be eligible to retire by 2016. Davis pointed out that
a shortage of qualified medical laboratory professionals will have a
serious negative impact on patient care in Canada. Up to 85 per cent of
decisions about diagnosis and treatment are based on results of tests
performed by medical laboratory technologists.
CHPS representatives also had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Atul
Kapur, a member of Canadian Doctors for Medicare, a national
organization that provides a voice for Canadian doctors who support
Canada’s publicly funded health care system and reject private insurance
and direct payment for health services.
Other key items discussed at the meeting included:
● Recent discussions with
members of Parliament to raise awareness about the important role
that CHPS members play in the health care system.
● A presentation by CHPS to the House of
Commons Health Committee, which is reviewing the intergovernmental
10-year plan to strengthen health care.
● Collective bargaining trends, including
strategies to deal with market supplements.
● A submission by CHPS to the newly created
Mental Health Commission of Canada.
About CHPS
The CHPS is a national advocacy body that represents 70,000 unionized
health professionals who deliver the diagnostic, clinical,
rehabilitation and preventative services that are essential to timely
and quality health care. Some of the highly trained professionals
represented by CHPS include medical laboratory technologists,
physiotherapists, social workers, pharmacists, occupational therapists,
dietitians and psychologists. These professionals work in hospitals,
long-term care facilities, mental health services, laboratories, home
care services and public health agencies. NUPGE
More information:
Mike Luff, CHPS co-chair (613) 228-9800
www.nupge.ca
