The Ministry is currently reviewing the Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines (MHPSG) as part of an overall strategy to rebuild public health capacity within the province. The most recent version of the MHPSG was released in 1997.

The following directions serve as a foundation for the review :

• Move from guidelines to program standards that are linked with specific performance measures for increased accountability.
• Renew the program standards based on current science, evidence, and best practices.
• Integrate renewed standards into an overall performance management system for public health.
• Adopt a logic model approach to clearly identify and illustrate short- and long-term outcomes.
• Establish ongoing review, enhancement and support processes so that standards are continually evolving.

The review process is being guided by a Program Standards Technical Review Committee (TRC), consisting of stakeholders, and staff from the Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care, Health Promotion and Children and Youth Services. The Committee through its co-chairs advises the Chief Medical Officer of Health on the development of the new program standards. The review process is a collaborative endeavour between the three ministries.

An Inter-Ministry Committee was established in late October to serve as a platform for information exchange across government.

The renewed mandatory public health standards are expected to be finalized for Ministerial approval in spring of 2007.

Communiques about the review process are available at the Public Health Portal at the bottom of the page.

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