Open Letter to the Prime Minister
October 12, 2022
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
e-mail : pm@pm.gc.ca
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Department of Finance Canada
90 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G5
e-mail: chrystia.freeland@fin.gc.ca
Re: Physiotherapists Stand Ready to Help Reduce the Strain on the Canadian Health Care System
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Freeland,
Our healthcare system is facing substantial pressure from an aging population, pandemic fatigue among frontline healthcare workers, and increased stress on emergency rooms. It is a dire situation that requires decisive action and solutions that can be implemented immediately.
Physiotherapists stand ready to help address Canada’s greatest health challenges, including the urgent need to support the country’s aging population and those living with chronic pain, to assisting Canadians living with Long COVID, and to increase non-pharmacological pain management care.
Physiotherapy is already recognized as part of the Canada Health Act, but we, as a profession, are underutilized in our current health system. We know we can do more to support patients and our fellow primary care providers in delivering high-quality care across the health system spectrum, whether at home, in a community or primary care clinic, in a treatment facility, or in the emergency room.
We recognize that changes in health care delivery require meaningful consultation and must consider a wide array of stakeholders from across the country. To that end, we respectfully request that you convene an inter-ministerial task force consisting of representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Seniors, the Ministry of Mental Health & Addictions, and the physiotherapy profession to explore solutions to optimize the use of physiotherapy expertise and increase access to physiotherapy services.
As outlined in our Pre-Budget Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance, optimizing the use of physiotherapy services and expertise is one of the simplest, most expedient, and most beneficial actions the government can take to improve system capacity across Canada. By providing a more significant role for physiotherapy in addressing some of the most urgent challenges facing our health care system, such as Long COVID, non-pharmacological pain management, and care for older adults, Canada can begin to relieve the unbelievable stress and toll on other primary care providers who continue to battle the pandemic on the front lines.
The inter-ministerial task force we have recommended would be the first step toward making these changes, and the Federal government has a constructive and leading role to play in its creation. We would appreciate the opportunity to meet and share more about how this task force could help relieve the pressures Canada’s health care system is facing.
Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to hearing from you at your earliest opportunity.
Resources
The Canadian Physiotherapy Association. (Oct. 8, 2022). Written Submission for the Standing Committee on Finance’s Pre-Budget Consultation. Retrieved online.
The Canadian Physiotherapy Association. (Oct. 12, 2022). Press Release: Physiotherapists Stand Ready to Help Reduce the Strain on the Canadian Health Care System. Retrieved online