A group of First Nations and health officials in northern Ontario are planning to declare a public health emergency on Wednesday.

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation, the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority and the Sioux Lookout First Nations Chiefs Committee on Health are scheduled to hold a joint news conference in Toronto at 10 a.m.

Globalnews.ca will livestream the announcement.

The emergency is "to address urgent and long-standing health issues caused by the inequality of health and health care services," according to a statement.