Health Canada announces funding strategy to operate KO telehealth services
On Wednesday, Feb 8 representatives from Health Canada's First Nation and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) met in Balmertown with representatives from Keewaytinook Okimakanak, the KO Telehealth team, Assembly of First Nations and Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Joining the meeting by video were:
- Dr. Valerie Gideon and Eugene Nicholas from AFN in Ottawa,
- Dr. Ed Brown from NORTH Network in Toronto,
- Miriam Johnston from the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy in Toronto,
- Al Garman, Richard Leikkari and Mark Lavigne from FNIHB in Ottawa
- Dr. John Hogenbirk, Laurentian U in Sudbury (and a grad student)
- Dr. Ricardo Ramirez and Andres Ibanez at Guelph U
- Sandy Lake Telehealth and Health Services team for a demonstration
- Brian Beaton, K-Net Services in Sioux Lookout.
The full day meeting quickly became a discussion about the development and sustainability of the KO Telehealth service when FNIHB announced a four month bridge funding strategy to continue the existing services. The KOTH team will be meeting with their First Nation partners and the leadership over the next few months to determine their support for the continued operation of the KO Telehealth service.
It is still hoped that the new government will support the Aboriginal health blueprint introduced in Kelowna through the creation of a new program to fund telehealth services.