Vancouver, B.C. – Two days of health talks wrapped up today in Vancouver with an agreement to move ahead on several key areas.

Canada’s Minister of Health Jane Philpott said those shared priorities will focus on the following:

– Enhancing the affordability, accessibility and appropriate use of prescription drugs
– Community care. Both home care (including palliative) and mental health care
– Innovation in health-care services that improve the quality of care

She said all levels of government also agreed to come together again in the next few months to take stock “of our progress and to discuss what actions we can take collectively and individually to strengthen our publicly funded health care system.”

Philpott added all health ministers agreed to work jointly and with indigenous leaders “to explore areas of shared priorities that will improve delivery of care to indigenous peoples.”

She said consensus was also found in promoting healthy weights and health promotion in schools.

Physician assisted dying was also discussed though Philpott acknowledged addressing the issue is a work in progress.

“We are faced with a challenge of developing thoughtful, compassionate and a well-informed response to the Supreme Court’s ruling. We are committed to working together to develop our respective responses to form a framework for physician assisted dying in Canada.”

B.C.’s Health Minister Terry Lake was encouraged by this week’s meetings.

“The agreement we’ve reached today to move ahead on several areas is a key first step to other collaborations we expect to work on together in the coming years.”

One issue the federal government acknowledged needs work is when it comes to the legalization of marijuana.

“This is an important question and one that I hope to have a good answer for you in the coming months,” Philpott told reporters.

“But it would be premature for me to give you an answer on that at this point. One of the early steps in that process will be the establishment of a task force which we expect to announce in the coming months.”

As for how the government plans to fund public health care in the future, the following commitment was made.

“Ministers agreed that new resources are needed to stimulate and support needed changes in health-care systems across the country. The federal minister confirmed the federal government’s commitment to work collaboratively with provinces and territories toward a long-term funding arrangement.”