Physiotherapists Stand Ready to Help Reduce the Strain on the Canadian Health Care System
Canadian Physiotherapy Association pens open letter to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister on Budget 2023–24 recommendations
12/10/2022 – Ottawa
Today, following the submission of their pre-Budget recommendations to the Federal Standing Committee on Finance, the Canadian Physiotherapy Association is calling for the Federal government to work with the physiotherapy sector to explore innovative care delivery solutions that utilize the distinct skills of physiotherapy professionals to help reduce the strain on Canada’s health care system and address our country’s health care crisis.
“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 assist Canadians living with Long COVID, and to increase non-pharmacological pain management care,” said an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. “We call on the Federal government to 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 that optimize the use of physiotherapy expertise and increase access to physiotherapy services.”
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. Since physiotherapy is already embedded into the Canada Health Act, physiotherapists are in a unique position to provide immediate support to our strained health care system.
The pandemic has exacerbated trends in the health care system that were already well established, including burnout among primary care providers and the lack of access to core services. Throughout 2022, emergency rooms across the country have reached capacity, forcing them to close their doors to new patients.
With no end in sight to the strain, our health care system is at significant risk of further decline. Optimizing the use of physiotherapy expertise, including increasing access to physiotherapy services, will enhance system capacity and support the provision of a wide range of services across the full spectrum of care — whether at home, in a community or primary care clinic, in a treatment facility, or in the emergency room.
Resources
Recommendations to the Federal Government’s Standing Committee on Finance
Open Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland
Federal Standing Committee on Finance
Contacts
Kayla Scott, Senior Director, Advocacy
1 (613) 564-5454 ext. 225
Caitlin Drake Smith, Senior Director, Strategic Communications
1 (613) 564-5454 ext. 252