A reflection on progress and challenges for Canadian healthcare

Looking back sometimes gives us the clearest path forward. If we take history as our teacher, when it comes to driving health reform, better has always meant working more closely together. As I wrap up my term as president, I feel a sense of hope as I see our 13 health systems across Canada rediscover this lesson. We’ve accomplished much over these past 12 months; I’ve taken as much inspiration from your conviction to do better as I’ve tried to give you. Physicians across Canada will always be bound to each other through the patients in our care. On your behalf, I’ve met with party leaders, Indigenous partners, MPs and Senators, patient representatives and, most recently, provincial and territorial premiers as they gathered in Winnipeg for their Council of the Federation meeting. Read: We’ve reached a watershed moment where we’re not going back to the way things were: CMA president Bringing your experiences to these discussions, I’ve witnessed first-hand the power of building relationships, earning trust and working with common purposes as we seek to build stronger heath care for everyone in Canada. Focused on the areas where we can have the greatest impact for physicians and patients, we’ve hit some major milestones, including the announcement of the largest federal health transfer funding since 2004, an important milestone on the CMA’s advocacy roadmap. With this funding coupled with strong front-end “strings”—including links to health data, recognition of credentials between provinces and territories and shared priorities—the momentum toward better has accelerated this year. Of personal significance to me are the foundational steps the CMA has taken to improve Indigenous health, including outlining a new, long-term Indigenous health goal and beginning an apology process focused on the harms experienced by Indigenous Peoples within the healthcare system. I look forward to continuing to lead this important work in my year ahead as past president. While I’m hopeful for what’s to come, I also recognize momentum is fragile. Entrenched status quos do not change on their own. I know that our incoming president, Dr. Kathleen Ross, will champion that change with equal commitment as she leads the CMA for the next year. I look forward to welcoming her as president at our virtual AGM Wednesday and to joining her in discussions on What Healthcare Should Be at our Aug. 17–18 Health Summit. Stability and improvements in healthcare are similar to walking up a muddy hill after a heavy rain. Standing still means sliding downwards. We have to keep walking forward if we’re to build a better future. Thank you for your compassion and your critiques. They helped me remain thoughtful throughout this year. I hope you felt I was a voice that brought Canadian healthcare closer to what you wish it could be. Your voices gave me hope for the same each day over the past year and they’ll carry me into many years to come. Dr. Alika Lafontaine is the outgoing president of the CMA and an anesthesiologist in Grande Prairie, Alta.

A reflection on progress and challenges for Canadian healthcare

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