COVID-19: CMA outlines key priorities

OTTAWA — In a submission sent to Finance Minister Bill Morneau, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is recommending the federal government implement six priority measures to support the domestic response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The recommendations are:

• A clear federal recommendation that Canadians uniformly implement social distancing, paired with supportive financial and economic measures;
• Federal leadership to ensure the acquisition and of the domestic supply of personal protective equipment for health care providers, along with the dissemination of clear guidelines on appropriate usage to ensure dissemination to community-based and primary care clinics;
• New federal emergency funding to boost capacity of our health care systems and social supports, and to ensure a consistent and coordinated response by provincial/territorial governments;
• Establishment of emergency pan-Canadian licensure for health care workers;
• Establishment of an emergency National Mental Health Support Service for health care workers;
• Implementation of a targeted tax credit to alleviate the negative financial impacts experienced by health care providers if they are quarantined following patient care.

“The CMA commends the federal government for its early action,” said CMA president Dr. Sandy Buchman in a statement. “Now is the time to ensure that appropriate leadership continues and that targeted investments are made to protect the health of Canadians.”