In 2005 CIHR forged a partnership with the provinces to fund eight Canadian research teams in three of the five priority areas identified by the federal and provincial and territorial Ministers of Health. The areas studied were sight restoration surgery, joint replacement and cancer. This work helped establish the first ever national benchmarks for wait times in December 2005.
The reports generated by these eight Canadian research teams will help to guide future research in the area of wait times. Based on the results of these reports and other parallel priority-setting activities, CIHR and our federal, provincial and territorial partners have launched a new call to the research community. The request for applications called the Timely Access to Quality Health Care Initiative, will help bring more evidence to bear on the issue of Wait Times.
CIHR is committed to providing evidence-based solutions that will improve the health care system. Our work in the area of wait times research demonstrates we are delivering on this commitment.
Marie-France Poirier
CIHR Media Relations
Tel.: (613) 941-4563
E-mail: mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
