Details
- Full Title
- An Act to establish a national strategy for eye care
- First Reading
- June 14, 2022, Parliament 44, Session 1
- Type
- Private Member’s Bill
- Full Content
- https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-284
Summary
The National Strategy for Eye Care Act (Bill C-284) aims to create a national plan to help prevent and treat eye diseases, as well as assist with vision loss rehabilitation, to improve the health of Canadians. The Minister of Health is responsible for developing this plan by talking with provincial health representatives, Indigenous groups, and other important people. The strategy will look at different types of eye diseases and may include ways to train health professionals, promote research, share information between the federal and provincial governments, and quickly review applications for devices and drugs related to eye disease. The plan will also consider current practices for preventing and treating eye diseases and addressing health differences. To create the plan, the Minister must hold at least one conference with the people mentioned above.
The Act requires the Minister of Health to create a report that explains the national strategy within 18 months after the Act comes into effect. This report must be presented in both the House of Commons and the Senate, and it must also be published on the Department of Health's website within 10 days of being presented in Parliament. After five years, the Minister must prepare another report on how well the national strategy is working and the state of eye disease prevention and treatment. This report will include the Minister's findings and suggestions about the strategy, and it must also be presented in both Houses of Parliament.
Finally, the Act designates February as "Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month" across Canada each year.
Issues
Social Services
-
Healthcare
This bill seeks to improve health outcomes for Canadians by creating a national strategy for eye care. It focuses on preventing and treating eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, and on providing vision rehabilitation. The strategy includes identifying training needs for health professionals, promoting research, improving data collection, sharing information between federal and provincial governments, and expediting the review of drugs and devices related to eye disease.
-
Seniors and Pensions
This bill designates February as "Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month", which is a disease that disproportionately affects seniors. This is intended to raise awareness of this disease.
Social Justice
-
Reconciliation
The Minister of Health is required to consult with Indigenous groups when developing the national strategy for eye care.