Partnership aims to improve access to care for Indigenous patients and families

The letter formalizes an ongoing partnership between the two organizations and sets a shared goal: improving access to sustainable and culturally safe health care for AHT clients. The work is described in the letter as “guided by bi-lateral relationship building and is completed in the spirit of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.”

AHT delivers care to Indigenous residents of Toronto through both Western and traditional Indigenous approaches. The organization has operated for more than 30 years and sees more than 30,000 client visits per year for services including primary care, dental and oral health, physiotherapy, counselling, youth outreach and more.

“The letter of relationship reflects the strong partnership that we have established over many years of trusted collaboration with leaders at Sinai Health,” said Michael Milward, Executive Director, Anishnawbe Health Toronto. “Our work together has greatly improved the experience of clients of Anishnawbe Health Toronto.”

Success stories from the partnership between AHT and Sinai Health include: Traditional Palliative Care, cancer care and psychiatry. The letter of relationship describes the two organizations working together to expand on this work and explore more ways of improving clients’ access to care. 

Dr. Gary Newton, President and CEO of Sinai Health, says the partnership fits with Sinai Health’s values and mission as an organization. “We strive to deliver culturally responsive, compassionate care to everyone. As an organization, we are actively working on addressing health inequity, including barriers to care faced by Indigenous members of our community,” he said. “By signing this letter of relationship, we’re setting a path to deepen our work with AHT and build on the progress we have made together.”

As the two organizations continue their collaboration, the letter states, “Sinai Health will “consider AHT clients’ needs in the design and delivery of services and in our program planning.” Both organizations also pledge to “share best practices and benefit from each other’s clinical and operational expertise.”