Modernizing the management of health human resources in Canada

The views expressed herein represent the views of the Health Council of Canada acting within its sole authority and not under the control or supervision of Health Canada and do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada or any provincial or territorial government. [...] ABOUT THE HEALTH COUNCIL OF CANADA The Health Council of Canada was created as a result of the 2003 First Ministers' Accord on Health Care Renewal to report publicly on the progress of health care renewal in Canada, particularly in areas outlined in the 2003 Accord and the 2004 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care. [...] They are the backbone of the system – the provision of high quality, accessible health care services depends on having the right people, with the right skills, in the right settings. [...] Take wait times, for example: we cannot ensure timely access to care without having the right providers and support services in place all along the patient journey – not just the surgeons but whole teams of professionals in our hospitals, in rehab services and home care, and behind the scenes in planning, sharing information, and keeping the workforce healthy and productive. [...] We have carefully considered this feedback in finalizing the report, but readers should keep in mind that the content and conclusions of the report remain the responsibility of the Health Council.