First Nations Health Networks: A Collaborative System Approach to Health Transfer

• Main Authors: Smith, Ross, Lavoie, Josée G.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Longwoods Publishing 2008
• Subjects: Research Paper; Canada; First Nations; inuit
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2645221; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19377374

The Health Transfer Policy (HTP) of Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) offers First Nations the opportunity to assume a degree of administrative control over community-based health services. Although shortcomings of the policy have been documented, certain elements, particularly second- (“zone”) and third- (“regional”) level transfer (Health Canada 2001), have provided First Nations the flexibility to create novel organizations. These First Nations Health Networks (FNHNs), which have emerged through grassroots movements and interjurisdictional processes, have brought together a number of communities under a planning body, tribal council or health authority.