There’s nothing more important than our health and the health of the ones we love – and public health plays a critical role in ensuring everyone, everywhere, has access to the care they need to attain the highest level of health and wellbeing.
This World Health Day looks back at public health successes that have improved the quality of life for people around the globe – and at TELUS Health, we’ve been improving access to health and wellbeing services for more than a decade.
Backed by our commitment to building healthier communities and workplaces, our goal is to become the most trusted wellbeing provider in the world encompassing physical, mental and financial health.
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the way we interact with the public healthcare system – and virtual care has become a complementary tool that helps support Canadians and their families. TELUS Health MyCare increases access to primary care for those who don’t have a family physician or struggle to find care during evenings and weekends. Physician appointments are covered by provincial health insurance, and users can also access important mental health resources such as counsellors, psychologists and dietitians. MyCare helps fill the gap for many of the estimated 6 million Canadians without access to a family physician and the service is widely used across the country.1
Additionally, to help individuals manage chronic health conditions, and empower them with easy access to their health information, thanks to the TELUS Personal Health Record, two million Canadians are able to access and manage their health information online, and patients in four provinces are equipped with the technology to manage complex chronic conditions with TELUS Home Health Monitoring. 2
While technology like Personal Health Records and Virtual Care provide convenient access to health services, the cost of some preventive care services – like counsellors and psychologists – can still be a barrier for individuals without extended health benefits. With nearly one in two people in Canada reporting they are struggling with their mental health, our TELUS Health for Good program™ provides free counselling services to women who might otherwise struggle with access to help improve their mental wellbeing.3
Our Health for Good program also includes TELUS Mobile Health Clinics which help provide individuals experiencing marginalization and homelessness with primary health care and mental health support services directly on the streets. With over 235,000 people in Canada facing homelessness each day, these clinics are helping to break down the barriers to accessing care in 23 communities across Canada.4
We all benefit from public health, and at TELUS Health, we’re proud to play a role in helping increase access to care. Celebrate World Health day with us this year, and join us going forward as we work to build healthier communities and workplaces for everyone, everywhere, together.
References:
1 Azpiri, J. (2022, September 8). Nearly 60% of British Columbians find it difficult to access a doctor or have no access at all: poll. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/angus-reid-institute-doctor-access-bc-1.6575386
2 TELUS Health internal data.
3 Miller, A. (2022, March 12). 2 years into the pandemic, Canada’s mental-health system is at a crisis point. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/canada-mental-health-crisis-covid-19-pandemic-1.6382378
4 TELUS Health internal data.