Federal Primary Health Care Transition Fund

The Primary Health Care Transition Fund (PHCTF) is an $800 million Health Canada initiative designed to facilitate systemic, long-term renewal by supporting Canada's provinces and territories in their efforts, over the next four years, to improve their delivery of primary health care services. The fund has two components: National and Provincial/Territorial.

The National component, administered by Health Canada, is 30 per cent of the fund, or about $240 million, which will be used to support common approaches to primary health care renewal, and improve primary health care for priority populations. This component has four distinct funding envelopes: national; multi-jurisdictional; aboriginal; and official language minority communities.

The Provincial/Territorial component is 70 per cent of the fund, or $560 million. It is designed to help provide provinces and territories with the funding needed to advance reforms, and is allocated on a per capita basis.

B.C.'s Approach to the Primary Health Care Transition Fund

B.C. has been granted approximately $74 million of Provincial/ Territorial component over the four years. The majority of the funding will be provided to the provincial Health Authorities. B.C.'s Primary Health Care Transition fund framework envisions a strategic partnership with the Health Authorities to develop, implement and manage Primary Health Care Renewal initiatives.

B.C.'s proposal to Health Canada's Primary Health Care Transition Fund focuses on three major strategies:

• Supporting a Range of Practice Models
• Improving Health Outcomes, with a focus on Chronic Disease Management (CDM), and
• Professional development, evidence and evaluation

Last Revised: February 14, 2007