The Government of P.E.I. is releasing a new roadmap to reduce the impact of chronic disease on the Island. Chronic diseases – like cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases – account for seven of the 10 leading causes of death in P.E.I. and in Canada, according to the province. The Island’s new Chronic Disease Framework is a provincewide approach that formed after an extensive consultation and research process. It connects government, health care, community partners and Islanders to improve prevention, screening and disease management. It aims to guide policies, strategies, services and partnerships to improve care for Islanders. Despite progress over the decades in mitigating incidents of heart disease and stroke, the report suggests the challenge is still growing. “Our population is not only growing larger; it is also aging, in part because of the demographics of the ‘baby boom’ and in part because of the gains in life expectancy,” reads the report. “As our population grows and Islanders live longer, more people are living with one or more chronic diseases,” Minister of Health and Wellness Cory Deagle says. According to estimates within the report, P.E.I.’s population aged 65 and older is forecast to increase by about 45 per cent from 37,000 in 2024 to between 50,600 to 57,500 in 2049. “By helping Islanders stay healthy and providing the care they need, we can improve quality of life and help ensure our health system remains sustainable for years to come,” says Deagle. Health P.E.I. interim CEO Laurae Kloschinsky emphasizes the collaboration involved in producing the framework. “By strengthening coordination across healthcare services and working closely with community partners, we can help Islanders access the right care and support at the right time and make it easier to navigate the services they need,” she says in a news release from the province. Consultation began in the spring of 2024, when a range of health and wellness organizations provided input for the framework. Nearly 60 groups and individuals were involved in the process, including representatives from government departments, Health P.E.I. units, community organizations and medical clinics. They pinpointed three key areas to focus on in mitigating chronic disease for the years ahead: For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
