UNIFYING STATEMENT
 

The Canadian Eye Health Coalition is united in the belief that all Canadians deserve equal
access to eye care, regardless of their financial means or where they live. CEHC fully supports
the overriding principle that the national strategy is focused on a patient centered approach,
ensuring that the delivery of eye care services is, above all, centered on the needs and
experiences of patients. This means prioritizing timely and affordable access to care, reducing
wait times, and ensuring that patients receive culturally appropriate and personalized
treatment.

By establishing a coordinated national framework, Bill C-284, An act to establish a national
strategy for eye care, facilitates an ecosystems approach to collaboration between federal,
provincial, and territorial governments, healthcare providers, industry and community
organizations. This approach ensures that resources are effectively allocated and that
innovative solutions—such as telemedicine and mobile clinics—are leveraged to reach
underserved communities. The emphasis on equity and inclusion underscores the importance
of culturally sensitive care and the need to address systemic barriers that have historically
limited access to vision health services for marginalized and remote populations.