Minister Philpott to Chair the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting and take part in the World Health Assembly in Geneva

Bringing Canada's view to significant global health challenges

OTTAWA, May 20, 2016 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, will be in Geneva, Switzerland, next week to chair the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting (CHMM) and lead Canada's delegation to the 69^th World Health Assembly (WHA). These meetings are opportunities for Canada to work with international partners to explore how to best address increasingly complex global health challenges.

The CHMM, to be held on May 22, will focus on two significant issues at the heart of global health challenges: universal health coverage — to improve access to and quality of health care globally — and health security — the capacity of all countries to preserve and protect the health of the population. At the WHA, Minister Philpott will deliver Canada's statement, in which she will highlight some of Canada's key priorities in global health.

Canada's delegation to the WHA will include the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie; Parliamentary Secretary Karina Gould, Global Affairs Canada; Dr. Gregory Taylor, Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada; Paul Glover, Associate Deputy Minister, Health Canada; Dr. Horacio Arruda, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Quebec; Karima Velji, President, Canadian Nurses Association; and Ramya Kancherla, a medical student from McMaster University. 

Canada has been actively involved in a number of resolutions that will be brought forward at the WHA, including leading a resolution to strengthen the role of the health sector in the sound management of chemicals. Other key resolutions address preventing violence against women and children, supporting ageing and health, improving women's, children's and adolescents' health, and meeting the health-related goals in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  

Quotes

"I am honoured to chair this year's Commonwealth Health Ministers' Meeting. This is a valuable forum in which to work with like-minded countries to explore how we can best address increasingly complex global health challenges. This year we will focus on two significant issues at the heart of global health challenges — universal health coverage and health security. I look forward to helping to advance these important topics, and our shared objective of protecting the health of our citizens, with our Commonwealth partners."

The Honourable Jane Philpott
Minister of Health

"Many health challenges, such as the spread of infectious diseases, do not respect borders. Other challenges, such as childhood obesity and aging populations, are shared by many countries. Addressing global health challenges such as these requires collaborative, global, whole-of-society approaches. Canada's long history of leadership and collaboration on the world stage will continue at this year's World Health Assembly, where we will meet with the world's health leaders and experts to discuss the health challenges we are facing in our countries and on a global scale."

The Honourable Jane Philpott
Minister of Health

"Canada is committed to a more comprehensive approach to support women's health and rights. To become transformative forces in the world, women and adolescents must have access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health services."

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau
Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

"The World Health Assembly is an important instrument for bringing the international health community together to address increasingly complex global health challenges and to find ways to better prepare for, and respond to global public health emergencies.  I look forward to the discussions and opportunities to explore innovative ways to address the health challenges facing our countries today."  

Dr. Gregory Taylor
Chief Public Health Officer

"The World Health Assembly offers a timely and important opportunity to discuss the critical shortages of skilled health professionals expected globally in the years ahead. The demographic changes happening in Canada and throughout the world mean innovative care delivery models are needed to reorient care from hospitals to community and home-based models. The WHA discussions will highlight the need to promote multidisciplinary teams, emphasizing issues of credentialing, training and retaining workers within the global health care sector. Canada's leadership is essential to inform discussion to ensure resources are used efficiently, protecting the long term sustainability of the universal health care system that makes Canadians proud, and promoting our strengths on the global stage."

Karima Velji
President, Canadian Nurses Association

"In the current health landscape, youth are positioned to be agents of innovative change and advocates of health equity both in Canada and internationally. Many of the challenges being addressed at the WHA, including the environmental impact on health and the importance of migrant health, have direct and indirect long-term impacts on today's youth. Having this opportunity to represent Canadian youth and meaningfully engage in such dialogue is a step towards sustainable solutions to better address complex global health issues."

Ramya Kancherla
Medical student, McMaster University

Related Product

Canada at the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting and the 69^th World Health Assembly in Geneva

Associated Links

The Commonwealth Health Hub
The World Health Organization 69^th World Health Assembly

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SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

Andrew MacKendrick, Office of Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, [phone]; Bernard Boutin, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, 343-203-5977, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Global Affairs Canada, 343-203-7700, [email protected]