Update on the Ombudsman’s Report on The Feasibility of Providing Periodic Health Assessments to All Primary Reservists

Update on the Ombudsman’s Report on The Feasibility of Providing Periodic Health Assessments to All Primary Reservists

In October 2015, I released a study in partnership with the Canadian Forces Health Services Group – The Feasibility of Providing Periodic Health Assessments to All Primary Reservists – with the purpose of examining whether Periodic Health Assessments could be provided to members of the Primary Reserve with the same standard of periodicity as the Regular Force.

This study emphasized the importance of ensuring that Reserve Force members are fit to conduct regular training and exercises. Universality of Service mandates that all Primary Reservists must be free of medical conditions that would limit their ability to be employed and deployed.  Further still, commanding officers are responsible for the health and wellbeing of Reservists under their charge, and must attest yearly that their personnel are medically fit.

In response to the study, the Canadian Forces Health Services Group committed to investigating various courses of action to determine the valuation of each of the options, including full costings, and preparing a follow-up report on its findings. My Office has kept in regular contact with the Canadian Forces Health Services Group in order to monitor ongoing progress. Of note, the Canadian Forces Health Services Group are planning to launch the trial of a new assessment tool – the Reserve Medical Readiness Questionnaire.

In December 2016, the Chief of the Defence Staff directed a new expedited Primary Reserve enrolment process which resulted in the Canadian Forces Health Services Group having to focus their resources towards enrolment medical screening. As such, the Canadian Forces Health Group advised that this would delay the launch of the Reserve Medical Readiness Questionnaire trial until the summer of 2017.

The Canadian Forces Health Services Group stated that the new expedited enrolment medical screening will provide the minimum dataset needed to assign a medical category based on the common enrolment medical standard. My Office was also advised that there would be no change in the way Periodic Health Assessments are administered, until a trial of the new process is eventually set in motion.

While the military is citing competing priorities, nothing concrete has been done to change the situation that was highlighted 16 months ago and we do not foresee any actions being taken in this regard in the near future.

Reservists must receive regular medical assessments. Without them, the Canadian Armed Forces cannot guarantee that Reservists are fit to train, participate in exercises, or to be rapidly deployed for domestic emergencies.

My Office remains committed to ensuring fair and equitable treatment for all members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Reservists, both serving and retired, as well as their immediate families, form an important part of our constituency.

If you have any questions about this study and how it may affect you, I encourage you to contact my Office. We are ready to help.

 

Gary Walbourne
DND/CF Ombudsman

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