News Release

1997-10
February 19, 1997

New strategic health initiatives important steps toward modern health system

OTTAWA - Health Minister David Dingwall today released details of the new health initiatives announced in the 1997 federal budget, saying they are "important steps in developing a modern, efficient health system for the future and investing in the health of Canadians, starting with children".

The initiatives include the creation of a Health Transition Fund; a Canadian Health Information System; and strengthened funding for the Community Action Program for Children and the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program. In addition, increased funding for health research will be targeted through a new Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Networks of Centres of Excellence.

"By providing funding for these initiatives, we are focussing on some of the essential elements of a modern approach to health in this country -- renewing medicare, expanding access to up-to-date health information, investing in our children's health and boosting health research," Mr. Dingwall said. "These were among the priorities flagged by the National Forum of Health in its recent report. Our goal now is to work with our provincial partners and health stakeholders to achieve not only a high quality health system but a high standard of health among all Canadians."

Health Transition Fund

The National Forum on Health recommended a transition fund be set up to test and evaluate models for reforming and modernizing the health care system. The Health Transition Fund will provide $150 million over three years to support provincial and territorial pilot projects and innovative approaches to modernize the health care system. The funds will be allocated to provinces and territories on an equal per capita basis. The Fund will consider specific projects in such areas as pharmacare, home care, primary care, preventive health and evidence-based decision-making. Priorities for projects will be determined by the conference of federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Health.

Canadian Health Information System

A health system in which the decisions of health care providers, administrators, policy makers, patients and the public are based on high quality evidence is crucial to improving its effectiveness and cost efficiency. The development of a national health information system would make this evidence accessible to all those in the health system. Provincial governments are implementing or planning to implement their own health information systems. The federal budget provides funding of $50 million over three years to begin developing, in collaboration with the provinces, a national strategy for an integrated Canadian Health Information System -- "a network of networks". As a federal contribution to such a system, Health Canada is proposing a three-pronged initiative: a national health surveillance network, a population health clearinghouse and a First Nations health information system.

Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) and the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP)

Investing in the future means investing in children and youth, including their health. CAPC and CPNP build on constructive partnerships with provinces, territories and stakeholders to provide the kind of community-based support families at risk need to help their children thrive. The programs currently fund 748 projects in over 500 communities across Canada. The federal budget announced increased funding of $100 million over three years for the two programs. This increase in funding provides flexibility to move in new directions, address gaps in services and build on proven success. This initiative complements new federal investments in the national child benefit system also announced in the Budget.

Canada Foundation for Innovation

The budget announced an $800 million endowment to create the Foundation which will help generate funding for research infrastructure in various sectors, including health. The endowment will encourage contributions in both the public and private sectors, with a goal of raising a total of $2 billion by the year 2000 for research infrastructure. This represents the single largest investment in science in Canada in a very long time. It will become the largest foundation in Canada.

Networks of Centres of Excellence

Funding for the Networks of Centres of Excellence has been stabilized at an annual allocation of $47.4 million. Six centres conducting health research will receive funding -- the Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network, the Canadian Genetic Diseases Network, the Health Evidence Application and Linkage Network, Inspiraplex -- Respiratory Health Network, the Neuroscience Network, and the Protein Engineering Network.


For information:
Monette Haché
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803