Putting People First annual report released

The Government of Yukon has released the first Putting People First annual report, providing an update on the work being done to implement the report’s 76 recommendations.

In April 2020, Putting People First was released following a comprehensive review of the Yukon’s health and social services and programs. In August, 2020, the Government of Yukon endorsed the report’s recommendations, which provide a roadmap to transform the territory's health and social services system to better meet the needs of all Yukoners and create a system that is more integrated, collaborative, person-centred and culturally safe.

Of the 76 recommendations, 14 are operational, 39 are in progress and 23 have yet to be started. Some of the recommendations that are operational are:

• doubling the medical travel benefit for Yukoners as part of enhancements to the medical travel program;
• reducing pharmacy markups and fees to a level close to the national average;
• hiring additional nurse practitioners to increase access to primary health care providers in Yukon communities;
• establishing a by-name list to improve access to housing coordination;
• creating a new Care Coordination and Medical Travel Unit to streamline care across programs and providers;
• enhanced programs and services at long-term care homes to better support First Nations residents and their families;
• the creation of an evidence and evaluation unit with a clear population health mandate to support the health and social system, including program area staff and care providers, with data gathering, analysis, surveillance and evaluation; and
• the implementation of a fully-funded universal early childhood education.

A key recommendation of Putting People First is the creation of a health authority. The establishment of a health authority is a foundational step toward implementing the changes Yukoners have asked for and preliminary work on this has begun. The proposed name for the health authority is Health and Wellness Yukon, Santé et mieux-être Yukon or Shä̀w Kwä̀ ’a.