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Direct access means that individuals may consult a regulated health professional other than a physician without requiring a referral. Direct access facilitates access to health care, lowers health costs and helps ensure that Canadians can obtain necessary health services in the most appropriate venues. Download or print Information for Employers on Direct Access to Physiotherapy to to learn how to cut costs, decrease employee lost time from work and minimize disability claims.
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The Canada Health Act was passed by Parliament in 1984 and it is the cornerstone of the Canadian health care system. The Act aims to ensure that all residents of Canada have access to necessary hospital and physician services without cost or supplemental fees. Provinces and territories must abide by the criteria and conditions established by The Act in order to receive their full share of the federal health transfers under the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) cash contribution.
There are a broad range of factors that determine individual and population health. The fundamental conditions and resources required to achieve health are “peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable eco-system, sustainable resources, social justice and equity.” Improvement in health requires a secure foundation in these basic prerequisites. The Determinants of Health and the physiotherapist’s role in relation to these are described in this Health Policy Information Sheet.
This Health Policy Information sheet explains health promotion and disease prevention in accordance with the World Health Organization’s Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. The role of the physiotherapist and the CPA in relation to promotion and prevention are also considered. | 
