Advisory Panel on Healthcare Innovation holds National Health Consultation in Ottawa

OTTAWA, Dec. 8, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, Health Minister Rona Ambrose joined the Advisory Panel on Healthcare Innovation, chaired by Dr. David Naylor, in a dialogue about the current state of innovation in healthcare at a consultation session with national stakeholder groups held in Ottawa.  In attendance at the consultation were representatives from dozens of practitioner, policy-making and industry groups.  

Since its creation in June 2014, the Panel has been exploring the top areas of innovation in Canada and abroad, with the goal of identifying how the federal government can support those that hold the greatest promise.  This fall, the Panel focused on consulting with Canadians across the country, receiving hundreds of written submissions from the public and stakeholders.  In-person regional consultations were also held in Halifax, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton. 

Over the coming months, the Panel will continue its work, including consultations in Montreal, the Territories and Atlantic Canada.  A final report is expected in late May 2015.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada is committed to a strong, publicly funded healthcare system, guided by the Canada Health Act.
• Canada currently spends 11.2% of its Gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare, up from 7% in 1975. Among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, Canada's system is the fifth most expensive in terms of its share of GDP.
• Innovation is critical if the healthcare system is to continue delivering the high quality care Canadians expect. Jurisdictions across Canada are working to spur innovation, and their efforts are starting to pay off.  Now is the time to take stock, and consider how the Government of Canada can best support further progress.
• The Government of Canada is the single largest contributor to health research in Canada by providing almost $1 billion every single year. This funding supports nearly 13,000 researchers across the country working on more than 10,000 different projects.
• The work of the panel will be evidence-based, and will respect jurisdictional roles as well as Canada's core healthcare values.

Quotes

"Access to high quality care is important to all Canadians.  We need to work together across all sectors of society to harness the tremendous potential of innovation in healthcare and improve the responsiveness and sustainability of the healthcare system.  I was very pleased to hear about today's lively discussion among some of the key stakeholders in Canadian healthcare and what the panel is working on."
Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health

"The panel members are hearing and reading about many innovative measures to improve healthcare across Canada. We've also been advised about various steps that might facilitate creative problem-solving at the local and regional level, as well as wider adoption of proven innovations. One consistent theme is that new policies and practices have to focus on the needs of patients and communities, not the interests of providers, institutions, and agencies. Hearing that from stakeholders themselves has been unusual and very encouraging."
Dr. David Naylor
Chair, Advisory Panel on Healthcare Innovation

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SOURCE: Health Canada

For further information: Contacts, Michael Bolkenius, Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Federal Minister of Health, [phone]; Leslie Meerburg, [phone], Public Inquiries: [phone], 1-866 225-0709