AMC Condemns WRHA’s Decision to Terminate Patient Advocate Unit Partnership

by ahnationtalk on January 14, 202578 Views

January 14, 2025

Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is deeply disheartened and outraged by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s (WRHA) decision to terminate the Service Purchase Agreement (SPA) that funds the Patient Advocate Unit (PAU), effective February 7, 2025. This unilateral decision represents a significant step backward in the journey toward equitable, culturally safe healthcare for First Nations citizens.

“The WRHA’s decision to terminate this vital partnership is an appalling failure to meet the needs of First Nations patients,” said Acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy, “By cutting funding to the Patient Advocate Unit, the WRHA is not only ignoring the systemic barriers that First Nations people face but also perpetuating a long history of exclusion and discrimination in healthcare.”

The Patient Advocate Unit has played a crucial role in providing culturally appropriate and patient-centred care to First Nations citizens in the Winnipeg Health Region. Its elimination will create severe gaps in service, leaving many without the support they need to navigate a healthcare system that is still rife with racism and discrimination.

The WRHA has stated its intention to reallocate funding to expand its own internal Indigenous Health Services. However, many First Nations patients have expressed that they do not feel safe or comfortable accessing care within this system. The dismantling of the PAU disregards the voices and sovereignty of First Nations and undermines reconciliatory promises made by the provincial government.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is calling on the provincial government and WRHA to immediately reinstate the Patient Advocate Unit under AMC’s administration. Additionally, AMC is proposing the following steps to address this issue:

  1. Reinstatement of Services: Immediate restoration of the Patient Advocate Unit to ensure continuity of culturally safe care.
  2. Collaborative Partnerships: Development of stronger partnerships between AMC and WRHA to enhance health equity and improve outcomes for First Nations citizens.
  3. Transparent Dialogue: Establishment of a framework for ongoing communication and feedback to ensure First Nations voices are central to healthcare decisions.

“Cutting funding to the Patient Advocate Unit is not only discriminatory but directly contradicts First Nations’ inherent right to health,” Chief Kennedy continued. “We demand immediate action to reverse this decision and uphold the principles of equity and reconciliation that the provincial government and WRHA claim to support.”

AMC remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for culturally safe, equitable healthcare for all First Nations citizens. The termination of the PAU will not go unchallenged, and AMC will continue to hold the WRHA and provincial government accountable for their actions.

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For more information, please contact:
Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email:  media@manitobachiefs.com

NT5

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