Agreements will increase wages for home support workers, and improve access to and affordability of drugs for rare diseases
Canadians deserve a health care system that provides timely access to quality health services and medications, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay. The Government of Canada recognizes that concerted and collaborative efforts by federal, provincial, and territorial governments are needed to improve health care for Canadians, including through better support for health workers and ensuring access to medications for all.
Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Canada's Minister of Health, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Honourable John Hogan, K.C., Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Health and Community Services announced over $47 million in federal investments as part of two bilateral agreements to support the health of people in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The first bilateral agreement is an amendment to the Aging with Dignity Agreement, announced in May 2024, the Government of Canada will provide more than $25 million in new funding over the next five years that will contribute to the support of Home Support Workers (HSWs). Through this agreement, Newfoundland and Labrador will provide an increase in wages for 6,000 agency-based HSWs, who assist clients with daily living, providing personal, behavioural, and household support to help them maintain independence and age safely at home. Newfoundland and Labrador is the first province or territory to announce increases to wages for these workers.
In addition, through the Agreement to support drugs for rare diseases the Government of Canada will provide $22 million over 3 years to improve access to drugs for rare diseases, early diagnosis, and screening, starting with the funding to support the province in providing access of two drugs under the National Strategy for Rare Diseases. These drugs, namely:
- Poteligeo, for the treatment of mycosis fungoides or Sézary syndrome; and,
- Oxlumo, for the treatment of hyperoxaluria type 1 will be made available to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.
In Canada, 1 in 12 people live with a rare disease. While there are thousands of rare diseases, unfortunately treatments are only available for a small percentage of these conditions. And, for most people suffering, the cost of these treatments puts them out of reach.
The names of other drugs on the common list will be published online on a drug-by-drug basis following the conclusion of the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance price negotiations for each drug. In addition, Newfoundland and Labrador is committing through this agreement to work with Canada and other provinces and territories on developing and implementing a plan for improving screening and diagnostics for rare diseases.
The Government of Canada remains committed to working with provinces and territories to improve health care for all Canadians. This includes improving the recruitment and retention of HSWs, and access to affordable prescription medications. These efforts will strengthen our health care workforce and safeguard the quality of care for vulnerable populations, promoting a more resilient and equitable health care system for all Canadians.
