National primary health care awareness campaign breaks
By Adnews Staff
Health Canada and Saskatchewan Health have launched a new national campaign intended to provide Canadians with a better understanding of primary health care. Called the "National Health Care Awareness Strategy," the campaign will focus on four areas: health care providers working together, improved information sharing between providers and patients, better access to health information and healthy living. Primary health care refers to basic, everyday services provided by a family doctor, nurse, dietitian or pharmacist. Television advertising will run on national networks for six weeks beginning today. Another six-week flight will air in January 2006. Print ads will run over eight weeks in the Saturday editions of various daily and weekly newspapers beginning this weekend. These ads will also repeat in January. In addition, a website has been constructed at <http://www.primaryhealthcare.ca>. The program also includes agreements with health-related organizations to disseminate information on primary health. These organizations are the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores, the Dietitians of Canada, GoodLife Fitness Clubs, Katz Group, Loblaws Pharmacy, London Drugs and the Victorian Order of Nurses. "It is important that Canadians understand what primary health care is, how it can improve their health, and how it can keep our health care systems healthy," said John Nilson, Saskatchewan Minister of Health. This campaign is a collaboration under the Primary Health Care Transition Fund. Health Canada will contribute $9.5 million over two years to Saskatchewan Health to develop and implement the strategy.