Canada's Health Ministers Meet in Winnipeg, Confirm $500 Million a Year for Rare Disease Drugs
Health Canada released a communiqué in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on October 16. Canada's federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Health and Ministers of Mental Health, Addictions, and Recovery met that day to discuss key health priorities facing Canadians. Provincial and territorial ministers welcomed confirmation from the federal minister of health that ongoing funding of $500 million annually for the National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases will continue.
Ministers discussed the sustainability of public health care, health system productivity, workforce participation and better outcomes for Canadians, and agreed to engage on the Canada Health Act Services Policy by spring 2027. Ministers from participating jurisdictions also affirmed support for a new Canadian Public Health Information Sharing Agreement and look forward to signing it soon. Ottawa reiterated its commitment to renew Working Together bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, and ministers will meet again before the end of 2026.
The communiqué noted that British Columbia and Quebec are in a caretaker period due to provincial elections and are therefore not parties to it. Ministers also discussed issues affecting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples and communities with the Parliamentary Secretary from Indigenous Services Canada.
Source: Health Canada
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：曼尼托巴省 Winnipeg 市景 / Photo: Winnipeg, Manitoba（Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 4.0）
