14 April 2016
Toronto -
The Canadian Cancer Society welcomes the federal commitment to improve palliative care, which the government reiterated today as it announced new regulations for medically assisted dying.
We are particularly encouraged that the government will follow through on its campaign promise to invest $3 billion over 4 years in better home and palliative care, and to use current negotiations with provinces on a new national health accord to ensure these investments achieve meaningful results.
“In a country where millions of people lack proper access to palliative care, there is a great deal of work left to do, but today’s commitment is certainly a step in the right direction,” says Gabriel Miller, Director, Policy and Public Issues, Canadian Cancer Society. “As the Minister of Health said today, ‘every Canadian deserves access to timely and high-quality healthcare, including at the end of life.’”
Together, all levels of government must fix outdated and costly health systems that are failing to effectively and efficiently meet the needs of critically ill Canadians with respect and dignity.
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website http://www.cancer.ca/ or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.