Government awards $310.9 million contract to provide and manage health care services for CAF and RCMP Personnel and Veterans

Three contracts totalling $310.9 million have been awarded to Calian Group Ltd. to provide and manage health care services for Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), Department of National Defence (DND) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, announced the government today.

“All Canadians deserve a high standard of health care, especially those who make great sacrifices to serve and protect us. I’m proud to announce these contract awards to Calian Group Ltd., as they will help ensure that our current and former women and men in uniform have all the health services and support they require, when they need them, wherever they are in Canada,’ stated Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, who made the announcement Thursday on behalf of the government.

The contracts, which will begin on April 1, 2018, will provide DND with additional psychologist, dentists, registered nurses and other healthcare professionals on an “as and when requested basis.” The contract is expected to alleviate challenges the Canadian Armed Forces faces, working under the public-sector model, with finding supplemental staff to fill positions that are short term, in remote locations or require specialists.

According to Calian, under this health services support model, patients will “receive a generous time allotment for visits.”

“In Canada’s Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, our government made a commitment to modernize the Canadian Armed Forces’ health system, in order to provide appropriate care to those who need it. The additional health care providers made possible by this contract will ensure our military members have enhanced access to comprehensive, timely and accessible health care,” stated Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence.

The length of the contracts is approximately four years with an option to extend for an additional eight years. Each individual contract is valued at $275 million for DND, $17.3 million for VAC and $18.6 for the RCMP.

The contract replaces the current Health Services Support Contract initially awarded to Calian in 2004. The company provides health care professionals from 60 different categories at all of the CAF’s 32 bases.

In 2016, Calian also launched the Military Family Doctor Network in partnership with Military Family Services.

Formed in 1982, Calian Group Ltd. provides technology, business, engineering and health services across Canada.

Calian Health is considered to be one of Canada’s largest national health services organizations. It has a network of more than 1,800 health care professionals supporting six million patient visits per year at more than 180 clinics, including 150 health care clinics located at Loblaw stores.