Toward a New Era of Policy: Health Care Service Delivery to First Nations

• Main Author: Miranda D. Kelly
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: University of Western Ontario 2011
• Subjects: First Nations; health policy; Political science; J; Social Sciences; H; Canada; British Columbia
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/0f8ed3d1c5464bada6feb653c3523556

The disproportionate burdens of ill health experienced by First Nations have been attributed to an uncoordinated, fragmented health care system. This system is rooted in public policies that have created jurisdictional gaps and a long-standing debate between federal, provincial and First Nations governments as to who is responsible for First Nations health care. This article examines: (1) the policies that shape First Nations health care in Canada and in the province of British Columbia (BC) specifically; (2) the interests of the actors involved in First Nations health policy; and (3) recent developments in BC that present an opportunity for change to First Nations health policy development and have broader implications for Indigenous health policy across Canada and worldwide.