Evidence of meeting #41 for Finance in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was services.
A video is available from Parliament.
President, Canadian Medical Association
I haven't heard what the final decisions have been with respect to who will implement it and what the rules and regulations will be around that, but that group will probably be involved.
Conservative
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
Do you have any concerns with the management of Canada Health Infoway?
President, Canadian Medical Association
Every organization has its strengths and weaknesses, and I will leave it to the departments to which they report to answer that.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
Have you no concerns with it then, in terms of strengths and weaknesses? Can you point to one strength they have? What is one positive product that Canada Health Infoway has performed since you've been president?
President, Canadian Medical Association
Canada Health Infoway has gotten together with other key stakeholders to make recommendations about the role of data interoperability—
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
What is one concrete accomplishment Canada Health Infoway has achieved since you've been president? Just give one.
President, Canadian Medical Association
I think it is to present a strategy with respect to adopting AI across the country.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
Was PrescribeIT not a failure, then? Would it be a weakness?
President, Canadian Medical Association
The details of PrescribeIT are not known to me. The concept of electronically ordered prescriptions that go directly from a physician's office to the pharmacy for the patient is still a strong recommendation from our organization.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
For the committee's review, PrescribeIT is a $300-million boondoggle that we're in the middle of studying in the health committee. Only 5% of prescriptions have gone through that program since its inception, so I would say it's a failure.
The Canadian Medical Association's website states, “Our health system is under unprecedented pressure.” Do you agree with that statement?
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
The independent Parliamentary Budget Officer just published a report that revealed that nearly 74,000 rejected asylum claimants—these are failed asylum claimants that the government has rejected and ordered to leave—remain eligible to receive both basic and supplemental health benefits in Canada.
Is it fair to say that 74,000 people add pressure to the health care system?
President, Canadian Medical Association
We have an obligation to serve those individuals who live in this country and to ensure that people reach their best health possible.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
Yes, I agree, but would 74,000 people add pressure onto our health care system? Please provide a yes-or-no answer.
President, Canadian Medical Association
There are six million people who do not have access, so they are part of that.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
Yes, that's even worse. There are 74,000 people who have been asked to leave our country, but they're still eligible to get health benefits that are even better than those for the average Canadian.
President, Canadian Medical Association
I think it's important that we recognize that we provide the best care to all Canadians. Each individual group and situation will be different, but our aim is to provide the best health care possible to Canadians and to residents in our country who have come looking for that.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
Are all Canadians entitled to physiotherapy and counselling services under the Health Act, yes or no?
President, Canadian Medical Association
Many of those services are provided within the community—