Ottawa, May 28, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Presentation by the Commissioner of Official Languages before the Romanow Commission: Communication is central to health care
In a presentation this morning before the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, the Commissioner of Official Languages, Dr. Dyane Adam, emphasized the key role that communication plays in providing quality health care. "In our moments of vulnerability, we want to be listened to and understood. This is why receiving health care services in our own language is of such great importance to all Canadians."
Dr. Adam stated that the Romanow Commission must address the issue of the linguistic dimension in health care in its final report. This issue was not examined in the Commission's interim report presented in February 2002.
The Commissioner emphasized the need for an integrated approach to address this issue. This would include creating and providing services that respect official language minority communities' specific characteristics. This approach would also require training and networking for health care professionals. As well, it is urgent to complete research-often sadly lacking-on the impact of linguistic and cultural variables on the well-being and health of these communities. Finally, there is a need to create or perfect service delivery models that best respond the these communities' specific situations. Such a strategy would ensure equal access to health care services for both English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians.
The Commissioner recommended that the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada:
1. explicitly address the linguistic and cultural contexts in which health care is provided in its final report and carefully assess the impact of its recommendations on the English-speaking and French-speaking official language minority communities;
2. propose that governments establish databases on the linguistic and cultural dimensions of health care and on the impact of health determinants on the official language minority communities. This information would allow governments to develop integrated strategies for prevention and for the promotion and delivery of high-quality health care services;
3. emphasize the need to implement the recommendations of the Consultative Committee for French Speaking Minority Communities and the Consultative Committee for English-Speaking Minority Communities. These two committees, set up by Health Canada, identified five strategic initiatives to improve health-care services to official language communities: networking; training for health care professionals; intake facilities; strategic information and technology; and research and awareness.
Dr. Adam stated that health and linguistic duality are two inseparable aspects of a single objective: promoting the well-being of all Canadians. "This is why we must find a solution to situations in which English-speaking or French-speaking Canadians have to choose between their right to receive health care and their right to use their language. Equal access to health care must include service in one's own language," the Commissioner concluded.
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