On December 17, 2015, Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care released its discussion paper – Patients First: A Proposal to Strengthen Patient-Centred Health Care in Ontario. The paper addresses four components:
- More effective integration of services and greater equity
- Timely access to primary care and seamless links between primary care and other services
- More consistent and accessible home and community care
- Stronger links between population and public health and other health services.
The Ministry is requesting feedback on this discussion paper over the next two months or so. AFHTO will be working with its members in each region of the province to develop a more detailed response to the questions posed in the discussion paper. Particular attention will be paid to those areas where great care must be taken to gain the most benefit for patients and communities, and avoid unintended negative consequences.