The province is inviting Manitobans to comment on proposed regulations that will enable proclamation of the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) and bring the professions of audiology and speech language pathology under the legislation. This announcent was made by Health Minister Theresa Oswald.
“The RHPA will change the way health professions in Manitoba are regulated and put the interests of patients and the public at the centre of the regulatory process,” said Oswald.
In June of last year, portions of the RHPA were proclaimed to establish the Health Professions Advisory Council and enable unregulated health professions to apply for regulation under the new act.
Currently, there are 21 statutes dealing with 22 different health professions. The RHPA will replace these statutes and over time will bring all 22 regulated health professions under one umbrella act.
The minister said the RHPA will:
- consolidate individual profession-specific statutes to ensure consistency including consistent rules and processes for governance, registration, complaints and discipline as well as regulation and bylaw-making authority, which will apply to all regulated health professions;
- allow professions to continue to be self-regulating;
- continue to place the interests of patients and the public at the centre of the regulatory process;
- strengthen accountability between the regulatory bodies and the government;
- remove barriers to interdisciplinary practice;
- ensure compliance and consistency with the Labour Mobility Act and the Fair Registration Practices in Regulated Professions Act; and
- foster greater confidence in the provincial health system.
Currently, profession-specific legislation grants exclusive scope of practice to certain professions. This approach makes it difficult or prevents some professionals from functioning to the full extent of their competencies, the minister said. The Regulated Health Professions Act sets out a new way of regulating who does what in the provision of health care by regulating actions or clinical procedures that may present a risk of harm if performed by someone who is not adequately trained or competent to do so, she added.
Twenty-one categories of harmful acts are designated as reserved acts under the RHPA such as prescribing drugs, cutting into tissue and applying a form of energy such as X-rays and CT scans for diagnosis.
The RHPA requires Manitobans to be consulted on:
- the Regulated Health Professions General Regulation, and
- the Practice of Audiology and Practice of Speech-Language Pathology Regulation.
Both regulations can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/health/rhpa/rhpa.html.
Members of the public are invited to provide their comments on the regulations until Monday, April 8.
Comments may be submitted in writing to the Legislative Unit:
- by mail to Manitoba Health, 300 Carlton St., Winnipeg, MB R3B 3M9
- by fax to 204-945-1020
- by email to rhpa@gov.mb.ca
