April 20, 2017 - Board of Health Meeting Agenda

Complete Agenda Package (PDF 2MB)

Thursday, April 20, 2017 - 7:00 p.m.
399 Ridout Street North
Side Entrance, (Recessed Door)
Board of Health Boardroom

Disclosure of Conflicts Of Interest

Approval of Agenda

Approval of Minutes

Board of Health meeting, March 16, 2017

Delegations

7:05 – 7:15 p.m.

Mr. Trevor Hunter, Chair, Governance Committee, re: Item #1, Governance Committee meeting, April 20, 2017.

Receive: March 16, 2017 Governance Committee meeting minutes

7:15 - 7:25 p.m.
Ms. Jennifer Proulx, Manager, Nurse-Family Partnership re: Item #2 The Canadian Nurse Family Partnership Education Project Update

Other Business

• Next Finance & Facilities Committee meeting: Thursday, May 4, 2017 @ 9:00 a.m.

The Finance & Facilities Committee will hold in-camera meetings on Thursday May 18 and Friday May 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to discuss matters regarding a proposed or pending acquisition of land by the Middlesex-London Board of Health.

• Next Board of Health meeting: Thursday, May 18, 2017 @ 7:00 p.m.
• Next Governance Committee meeting: Thursday, June 15, 2017 @ 6:00 p.m.

Correspondence

a) Date: 2017 February 27
Topic: Expert Panel on Public Health
From: Peterborough Public Health
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins

Background:
Public Health Transformation is one of five goals under the Patients First Legislation. One of the major components of this transformation is the striking of an Expert Panel on Public Health which is chaired by Ontario’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams. This panel has been tasked with providing confidential recommendations directly to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. These recommendations would come without any consultation, validation or reporting to the public. This runs contrary to other panels that have been formed to enact the Patients First Legislation where panels provided public reports with recommendations and consultations. Peterborough Public Health is very concerned with the decision to keep this confidential.

Additionally, Peterborough Public Health expressed concern about funding and funding models being “out of scope” for the panel. Since the introduction of the public health funding formula there have been calls to evaluate the formula to assess whether it is meeting intended goals, what unforeseen consequences might be occurring and testing the validity of its underlying assumptions. Further, there were also comments regarding the future of the relationship with “obligated municipalities”, support for the decision to not fund public health units through LHINs and the wish to understand how issues of funding will be addressed in the future.

Recommendation:
Receive.

b) Date: 2017 February 28
Topic: Opioid Use in Sudbury District
From: Sudbury & District Health Unit
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins

Background:
The Sudbury District Health Unit passed a resolution which congratulates the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and Chief Medical Officer on signing a joint statement of action committing to address the burden of opioid-related harms and the provincial opioid strategy. They requested that plans be developed with targets, deliverables and timelines that are communicated to stakeholders such as Board of Health. They further requested that the Federal Minister of Heath to communicate and promptly implement the federal opioid strategy.

Recommendation:
Endorse.

c) Date: 2017 March 09
Topic: Basic Income in Ontario
From: Huron County Board of Health
To: The Honourable Dr. Helena Jaczek, The Honourable Chris Ballard

Background:
In August 2016, Senator Hugh Segal provided a discussion paper to the Ontario government titled “Finding a Better Way: A Basic Income Pilot Project for Ontario.” This paper outlined potential actions for organizing, planning, administering and designing a Basic Income Pilot for Ontario. The Huron County Health Unit drafted correspondence supporting both the principle that everyone should have an income sufficient to meet basic needs and live with dignity, and the Basic Income Guarantee Pilot. They also identify key policies and programs that should complement, rather than replace, the Basic Income, such as affordable childcare, affordable housing, expanded health benefits and labour law reform.

The Middlesex-London Board of Health supported the investigation of a Basic Income Guarantee and sent correspondence on this matter to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Premier of Ontario and the Ontario Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Recommendation:
Receive.

d) Date: 2017 March 10
Topic: Response to the Standards for Public Health Programs and Services consultation document
From: Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa)
To: All Board of Health Chairs, alPHa members
Background:
Modernization of the Ontario Public Health Standards is another component of the Patients First Public Health Transformation. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care addressed modernization at the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) Winter Symposium on February 26, 2017. An Initial Analysis and Discussion document was prepared by alPHa to be submitted to the Ministry. Key findings of this initial assessment included the fact that there is now less content compared to previous Standards, particularly in regard to health promotion requirements, and that further details are required to assess the impact of the changes to boards of health. This report further details specific changes to the standards.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit has prepared a response for feedback from the Board of Health at its April meeting. This response, once approved by the Board of Health, will be forwarded to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for their consideration.

Recommendation:
Receive.

e) Date: 2017 March 07
Topic: Opioid Addiction and Overdose
From: College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
To: Dr. Christopher Mackie

Background:
At the November 2016 Middlesex-London Board of Health meeting, the Board passed a motion recommending that the College of Physician and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) advise its members that when prescribing opiates, patients should also be prescribed and counselled on the use of naloxone to help prevent potentially fatal complications associated with opioid overdose.

A response from Dr. Rocco Gerace, Registrar, College of Physicians and Surgeons, indicates that the College is currently investigating eighty physicians and their prescription practices, and is working with partners to promote appropriate prescription practices. They indicate that naloxone may not be required in every case and that access to the drug for those in need may be compromised if prescribed to those who do not require it. They suggest discussing the matter with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, and add that they would be pleased to participate in such discussions.

Recommendation:
Receive.

f) Date: 2017 March 17
Topic: Public Health Programs and Services Consultation
From: Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa)
To: Roselle Martino, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Background:
See item (d), above.

These additional comments from alPHa note the difficulty of fully assessing the operational implications of the Standards, the importance of examining capacity, resources and funding, the less prescriptive approach to health promotion and the lack of clarity on various other issues.

Recommendation:
Receive.

g) Date: 2017 March 22
Topic: Expert Panel on Public Health and the Healthy Menu Choices Act
From: Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Board of Health
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins
Background:
See item (a), above.

Additionally, the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit has asked the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care how they intend to measure the success of the Healthy Menu Choices Act and who will be accountable for this.

Recommendation:
Receive.

h) Date: 2017 March 23
Topic: Tobacco Endgame
From: Scott Warnock, Board of Health Chair, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins

Background:
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) passed a motion to support the federal government’s proposal to have less than five percent of people using tobacco by 2035. This proposal includes approaches identified at the 2016 summit, A Tobacco Endgame. SMDHU also includes a motion to encourage aligning the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy with federal plans. The tobacco endgame approach includes enhanced taxation, enhanced smoking cessation, reduced production, supply and distribution of tobacco, litigation and new funding streams for tobacco control.

Recommendation:
Receive.

i) Date: 2017 March 22
Topic: The Greater Access to Hepatitis C Treatment Act, 2016
From: Sylvia Jones, MPP Dufferin—Caledon
To: Chair Jesse Helmer

Background:
Sylvia Jones, MPP for Dufferin—Caledon, introduced Bill 5, Greater Access to Hepatitis C in the Ontario Legislature. This legislation would provide treatment earlier than the current clinical criteria, which demand an individual’s liver be halfway to cirrhosis. Bill 5 passed first reading on September 13, 2016. MPP Jones provides an update on expanded access to four new drugs for patients with any disease severity or genotype. Previous correspondence relating to this item was received at the January 19, 2017 Board of Health meeting.

Recommendation:
Receive.

j) Date: 2017 March 28
Topic: 2017 alPHa Fitness Challenge
From: Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa)
To: All Health Unit staff

Background:
The Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) is sponsoring its annual employee fitness challenge on Thursday, May 11. The challenge aims to have the entire staff participate in physical activity for at least thirty minutes that day.

Recommendation:
Receive.

k) Date: 2017 March 28
Topic: Low-Income Dental Program for Adults and Seniors
From: Porcupine Health Unit
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins

Background:
The Porcupine Health Unit passed a resolution encouraging the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to expand public dental programs for those living on low incomes, and that the resolution be forwarded to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, alPHa, the Ontario Boards of Health and the MPP for Timmins—James Bay.

Recommendation:
Receive.

Copies of all correspondence are available for perusal from the Secretary-Treasurer.

Confidential

The Board of Health will move in-camera to discuss matters regarding employee negotations, identifiable individuals and to consider confidential minutes from its March 16 meeting.

Adjournment