15 October 2019 | Ottawa – The Quality End of Life Care Coalition of Canada welcomes the Conservative Party of Canada’s financial commitment of $15 million in its election platform to implement the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada.
“Palliative care is a critical component of the healthcare system and addresses the quality of life of patients and their families,” says Sharon Baxter, Executive Director of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, and Secretariat of the Quality End of Life Care Coalition of Canada.
The Conservative platform stated that “To help Canada become a place where all Canadians who suffer are offered relief, we will provide $15 million to implement the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada. The Canadian Hospice and Palliative Care Association have estimated that only 15 to 30 per cent of Canadians who need it have access to palliative care services.”
By 2026, with the aging population, the number of Canadians dying each year will increase by 40% to 330,000. By 2036, Canada will see more than 425,000 deaths a year. “Many Canadian jurisdictions name community palliative care as a priority; however, few Canadians receive palliative care in the setting of their choice in their last year of life. A strong funded nationwide response to the national framework on palliative care is a step in the right direction,” says Ms. Baxter.
The recent Framework on Palliative Care notes the societal changes in Canada and their implications for palliative care. This includes; changing demographics, pressures on caregivers, changing expectations of person-centred care, limited integration of health care sectors and delivery systems; gaps in professional skills and capacity and increased public discussion about preferences and decision making regarding their health and personal care near the end-of-life.
About the Quality End of Life Care Coalition of Canada
The QELCCC, a national network of 34 national professional and health organizations, believes that all Canadians have the right to quality end-of-life care that allows them to die with dignity, free of pain, surrounded by their loved ones, and in the setting of their choice. The mandate of the QELCCC is to advocate for quality end-of-life care for all Canadians.
For more information, please contact:
Nicole Rickard
Communications Assistant
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
[email protected]
1-800-668-2785 x 233