Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today the Minister of Health gave us a glowing review on the state of the union of the Department of Health and Social Services. Glowing in a sense that I’m also wondering why we had so many election questions, during our walks, with our constituents in terms of their health and sustainability. That said, I want to point out one section of what was said today in the Minister’s address, “We’re working at better ways to manage chronic diseases like diabetes by giving patients the proper support at the community level and the tools they need to manage their illness.” It was only less than six months ago that the Auditor General’s report gave a rather scathing review on the program development and program support for many disease conditions, one of them being diabetes. My question for the Minister of Health is: Has progress been made since that Auditor General’s report?
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
The Department of Health and Social Services funds the health and social services authorities across the North and they deliver the chronic diseases programing, including diabetes. Right now the department is piloting a Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Program in a few of the communities across the North with the intention of improving the situation for people with chronic diseases.
Thank you for the overview. My question for the Minister will be: Are all communities receiving support in diabetes moving forward?
Like I indicated, running through the local health authorities across the North – and we have all the communities in one of the health authorities across the North – and right now the Diabetes Pilot Program and management of chronic diseases, the outcome to hopefully have better long-term results in diabetes prevention is being piloted in Norman Wells, Yellowknife and Behchoko.
Thank you for that reply. My final question for the Minister. On the subject of diabetes and diabetes alone, will the Minister provide any progress report in terms of the development and successes of this chronic disease in the near future?
The intention, again, is to use the pilot programs to try to improve the programs, management of chronic diseases. Once we have the report or results of the piloting in those few communities, our intention is to expand it into all of the communities. Once we get the results of the pilot program we will share it with the House.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
