Indigenous procurement is one way healthcare organizations can move reconciliation from commitment to action. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 92 calls on the corporate sector to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as a reconciliation framework and support equitable access to jobs, training, education and long-term economic benefits for Indigenous Peoples. In healthcare procurement, this means looking beyond good intentions and asking a practical question: How can organizations create measurable opportunities for Indigenous-owned businesses to participate in the supply chain?  

In this Supplier Spotlight, HealthPRO Canada highlights Spirit Healthcare Group, a national Indigenous‑owned distributor with a broad and growing footprint across Canada’s healthcare system: 

• Medical Supplies and Equipment Distribution — Spirit Healthcare operates a national distribution centre supplying nationally branded medical products & equipment to healthcare organizations and the federal government.   

• Remote and Distant Pharmacy Services — For more than 20 years, Spirit Healthcare has supported remote Indigenous communities, nursing stations, and medical centres with essential medications and medical supplies. This remains a core part of their identity and expertise. 

• Mobility and Rehab Products — Spirit Healthcare provides specialized rehab equipment, traditional mobility aids and bathroom safety products. 

Advancing Indigenous Economic Opportunity in Healthcare  

The Government of Canada’s 5% Indigenous procurement target, which applies to federal procurement, can serve as an interim benchmark for other organizations seeking to increase Indigenous business participation. Using the target as a benchmark takes more than a policy commitment. Organizations need to identify Indigenous-owned suppliers and distributors, track Indigenous spend, review procurement agreements for barriers, consider set-asides or reserved-award language where appropriate, and build relationships early.  

HealthPRO Canada has committed to allocating 5% of corporate spend within identified categories to Indigenous-owned businesses, achieving 4.9% in 2025, up from 2.5% in 2024. As an Indigenous Procurement Champion through the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business’ Supply Change program, HealthPRO Canada is strengthening Indigenous inclusion in procurement and enhancing its ESGI supplier scorecard to better recognize Indigenous ownership, supplier diversity and community investment. These efforts aim to improve transparency for Members and support the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan.  

Supplier partnerships are also important to this work. Brand partners visibly support reconciliation by placing the Spirit logo and a reconciliation statement directly on their product packaging. This is more than symbolic; it signals to buyers that Indigenous participation is built into the supply chain and encourages others to follow suit. Canada Masq’s relationship with Spirit Healthcare demonstrates how manufacturers can support Indigenous economic participation through everyday business practices.  

“Canada Masq is proud to partner with Spirit Healthcare as we honour Truth and Reconciliation — a commitment that shaped our relationship with them well before our QWipe agreement existed. Spirit Healthcare's leadership and mandate showed us a concrete way to support Indigenous partners through our everyday business, and we wanted to be part of that from the start.”  

- Duff Mitchell, Vice President, Business Development, Canada Masq  

Spirit Healthcare is committed to an approach grounded in community responsibility and long-term benefit, alongside the professional governance and operational discipline needed to deliver quality products and reliable service.  

What This Means for Members  

Creating space in the supply chain means incorporating inclusion at the beginning of agreements as healthcare supply chains are often locked into long-term distribution agreements. Meaningful engagement also requires Health Authorities to look for other practical entry points like pilot contracts, secondary distribution roles, or categories where Indigenous suppliers can be integrated immediately.  

Engagement should be tied to measurable actions, such as adopting or aligning with a 5% Indigenous procurement target, even before a formal policy is in place. Meaningful engagement involves listening to Indigenous suppliers, understanding the barriers they face, and co-creating solutions rather than expecting them to fit into existing structures that were not designed with Indigenous participation in mind.  

Spirit Healthcare’s story highlights how procurement can create value beyond price and product availability. Understanding the role of Indigenous-owned suppliers and building strong supplier partnerships can support economic participation while keeping quality, value and reliable access to essential healthcare products in focus.  

Learn more about Spirit Healthcare.