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An important resolution, cooperatively developed by health representatives at AFN, COO, NAN and KO was successfully moved forward and accepted by the Chiefs attending the Assembly of First Nations gathering in Halifax this past week. For KO Telemedicine, the resolution is another level of support that demonstrates these organizations' and the First Nation support for community-based telehealth services. With this support and direction to Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), it is hoped that KOTM will receive its much needed sustainability funding from Health Canada when the current 2 year project is completed in March, 2008.

AFN Resolution, as it was presented to the chiefs for their consideration ...

SUBJECT: Telehealth/Telemedicine Development and Sustainability

WHEREAS:

A. Telehealth/Telemedicine facilitates access to priority services such as mental health, diabetes, chronic disease management and pandemic planning and improves community-based access to health services and capacity-building and training opportunities for health staff servicing First Nations; and

B. First Nations based and directed Telehealth/Telemedicine programs have demonstrated success as a proven model of facilitating health service delivery supported by First Nations; and

C. There is no current First Nations controlled process to address Telemedicine/Telehealth nationally;

D. First Nations Telemedicine/Telehealth Programming requires adequate funding to support local and regional ehealth initiatives.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that:

1. The Chiefs-in-Assembly, support the development of a First Nations controlled and directed National Telemedicine/Telehealth Program that clearly identifies First Nations Telemedicine/Telehealth needs and prorities as determined through legitimate First Nations controlled process; and
2. The Chiefs-in-Assembly, direct Health Canada – FNIH to ensure appropriate long-term sustainability resources be identified within the First Nation Telehealth / Telemedicine Program to maintain the development, operation, maintenance and capacity-development requirements of such Regional First Nation Strategies and Processes; and
3. The establishment of the First Nations National Telehealth/Telemedicine Program shall be without prejudice to existing and/or on-going initiatives with repect to First Nation Telehealth/Telemedicine programs, (for example, KO Telemedicine Program) and will provide these programs with necessary resources for sustainability, capacity-building, enhancement and expansion.

MOVED BY: Chief Randy Phillips, Oneida Nation of the Thames, ON

SECONDED BY: Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, ON

DECISION: The telehealth resolution was passed without amendment and without any opposition (as reported by Brian Walmark, KO rep and proxy at the meeting)