August 2006

Information

News Release
	Government of Canada Funds St. Francis Xavier University $4 Million to Host Centre for Determinants of Health
Backgrounders
	National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health
	Determinants of Health
	Canadian Reference Group on Social Determinants of Health

Canadian Reference Group on Social Determinants of Health

The WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health

The WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health was launched in March 2005, to address the problem of growing inequities in health status within and between countries. Over a three-year period, the Commission aims to lever policy change by compiling evidence on the science and action on the social determinants of health, widening societal debate on the topic and proposing global and national policies for action.

Sir Michael Marmot of University College, London, chairs the Commission. It has twenty Commissioners representing global and national leaders from political, government, civil society and academic fields as well as from all geographic regions of the world. Canada is actively contributing to the Commission through leadership provided by Commissioners Stephen Lewis and the Honourable Monique Bégin. Canada is also providing support to Knowledge Network Hubs on Early Child Development, Globalization and Health Systems, and through expertise and advice provided by the Canadian Reference Group.

Canada's Reference Group on Social Determinants of Health

A Canadian Reference Group was established to support Canada's contributions to the Commission. This group is chaired by Dr. Sylvie Stachenko, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada.

The Reference Group is comprised of experts in knowledge and policy development in the area of social determinants of health, including the Commissioners and Canadian Knowledge Network leads, federal government departments, provincial health officials, academia and non-governmental organizations. The newly minted National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health is also a member of the Reference Group.

The Group will help orchestrate Canada's contribution to the work of the Commission, and help translate Commission findings into policy. The Group will also connect with and mobilize action in Canada on the social determinants of health.

The Group's vision and purpose dovetail nicely with the purpose of the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. The Centre will contribute to the information Canada will share globally with the Commission. In turn, the Centre, through its association with the Reference Group, has the benefit of accessing a global knowledge bank and discussions on positioning evidence to influence policy.

For more information on the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health, visit the Commission website.

For more information on the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health, see the Backgrounder on the subject.

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Media Inquiries:

Alain Desroches
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 948-7970