Researchers, policy makers and people with lived experience will work together to help build more resilient, equitable, and inclusive health systems across Canada
Ottawa – To prevent illness, treat disease, manage complex health conditions, and prepare for health emergencies, we need to strengthen our public and universal health care system. Innovative ways of doing research and integrating evidence into policy decisions can help ensure better health outcomes for people living in Canada – from coast to coast to coast.
Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, announced $9 million in research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé, the Ontario Ministry of Health, ResearchNB, and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation. With this investment, 60 research teams composed of researchers, policy makers, and people with lived experience, will conduct research to generate evidence-informed policy solutions to improve how health services are financed, organized, delivered, and governed. To maximize research impact, one team has been charged with summarizing and sharing key takeaways and solutions across all funded projects with health policy makers.
The funded research teams will help advance many health priorities, including improving primary, home, long term and community care, virtual care, mental health services, and Indigenous health. Additionally, seventeen of the teams will respond directly to health workforce challenges currently unfolding across the country. Their research will help inform policies to improve workforce planning, development, recruitment, retention, delivery, and the health and wellbeing of health workers.
Collectively, all funded research teams will aim to contribute to one or more of the five defining features of a high-performing health care system: better health outcomes for patients, improved care and patient experience, improved work experience for health workers, increased value, and improved health equity for all.
“Strengthening our public and universal health care system means better health outcomes for patients and better support for health workers. The time is now to invest in policy tools that will help address the challenges that our health care continues to face. This research will provide timely and evidence-informed solutions to make a real impact on health care across the country.” – Jean Yves Duclos, Minister of Health