Premier Clark launches strategy for healthy families
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Office of the Premier |
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Premier Clark launches strategy for healthy families
VANCOUVER – Premier Christy Clark today launched the most comprehensive health-promotion program anywhere in Canada – the $68.7-million Healthy Families BC strategy, which will help families make healthy choices and introduce innovative approaches to challenges facing the health care system.
“We are putting families first by investing in programs that give at-risk British Columbians access to supports and incentives to help them improve their health and the health of their families,” said Premier Clark. “This program will enhance and modify existing tools to help physicians better assess and make long-term care plans for patients who may be at risk of health complications like chronic disease. It’s just the first step in Healthy Families BC, which will provide new supports to help British Columbians be healthier in every part of their lives.”The first program launched in the strategy, the $24-million Prescription for Health program, will give B.C. doctors additional tools to conduct medical assessments and work with patients to develop a health promotion and illness prevention plan that best suits their medical needs and personal situation. Patients may identify a lifestyle change goal, which will be documented by the physician on a Prescription for Health.
Prescription for Health is available to patients with one or more of the following risk factors: smoking; unhealthy eating (excess calories, fat or sodium in their diet); physical inactivity (less than 30 minutes of activity several times per week); and medical obesity (a body mass index of 30 or more).“It is shocking to think that today’s kids may be the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than their parents – and this program is focused on providing B.C. families with the tools they need to take charge of their own health,” said Health Minister Michael de Jong. “Making healthy lifestyle choices is not always easy, but through this program, patients will have access to a variety of supports to help them set and achieve realistic health goals.”
The program was developed in partnership with the General Practice Services Committee (GPSC). GPSC is a joint committee of the Ministry of Health and the BC Medical Association that focuses on better supporting family physicians and community-level patient care throughout the province.“This is a well considered plan – a smorgasbord of options for patients and their doctors, to help with selecting goals and making healthier lifestyle choices,” said Dr Ian Gillespie, president of the BC Medical Association. “The dividends earned by participating in the Prescription for Health program will benefit families in many ways. It will also reduce our province's burden of illness and the associated healthcare costs, especially those related to chronic diseases in an aging population.”
The patient’s Prescription for Health may refer them to free-of-charge telephone-based lifestyle support services to help patients achieve their individual lifestyle change goals. Examples of lifestyle support programs include the Physical Activity Line, Dietitian Services at HealthLink BC, QuitNow Services, a tobacco-cessation service and information resource, the Patient Voices Network peer coaching program, self-management programs and the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Bounce Back: Reclaim Your Health program.As an incentive, 50,000 participating patients will be eligible for a subsidy of up to $50 toward programs such as a gym membership, physical activity-based recreation programs or personal nutritional programs.
Over the coming months, the healthy families strategy will focus on a variety of measures to encourage British Columbians to lead healthier lives where they live, work and play. Of the $68.7 million allocated for this strategy, the Province is working with health authorities to re-prioritize $45 million of health authority spending to focus on prevention initiatives that align with this strategy.Healthy Families BC will support British Columbians in managing their own health, reducing chronic disease and ensuring that pregnancy and support programs target the province’s most vulnerable families. Additionally, the strategy will continue to focus on healthy eating initiatives, including a public awareness campaign around sodium and sweetened beverage reduction as well as a provincial restaurant recognition program to promote healthy eating options.
A strengthened provincial strategy and investment in prevention can improve the health of British Columbians and potentially avoid up to $2 billion in yearly health-care costs, according to a report released in September 2010 by provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall. Obesity alone costs up to $830 million a year to the economy.For more information on Healthy Families BC or Prescription for Health, please visit, www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca.
