April 16, 2024 (Ottawa) – HealthCareCAN welcomes Budget 2024’s new investment into Canada’s health research system and is eager to work with the federal government to shape the implementation of newly announced structural changes to the federal research system.
The creation of a new, capstone research funding organization to advance international, collaborative, multi-disciplinary and mission-driven research in collaboration with the Tri-Council and the creation of the Advisory Council on Science and Innovation are promising announcements. Through this reorganization, the autonomy and funding of Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) must be preserved and a new vision for health research must be front and centre.
“Health research and innovation drive positive health outcomes, health system transformation, and development of solutions to challenges such as climate change, all while boosting productivity and economic growth through the development of health system efficiencies and new medical technologies,” said Paul-Émile Cloutier, HealthCareCAN President and CEO. “Focus must be maintained on the improvements delivered by Canadian researchers to the health of people across Canada and the modernization of the health system alongside the economic and productivity benefits health research provides.”
In the weeks and months leading up to the release of the federal budget, HealthCareCAN led its member institutions in showcasing real-world examples of important research initiatives that could have a major impact with greater federal funding support. This effort by HealthCareCAN, our members and partners across the country led to today’s investment of $1.8B over five years for the Tri-Council, and $825M over five years to increase the annual value of master’s and doctoral student scholarships to $27,000 and $40,000, respectively, and post-doctoral fellowships to $70,000. Today’s investment is a step forward, but the work is far from finished.
HealthCareCAN is also pleased to see federal funding earmarked for specific projects in healthcare and health research, including:
- $26M over five years starting in 2024-25, with $26.6M in remaining amortization and $6.6M ongoing, to the granting councils to establish and improved and harmonized grant management system.
- $2.4 billion to support development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Canada with initiatives that include building and providing access to computing capabilities and technological infrastructure for Canada’s world-leading AI researchers, start-ups, and scale-ups.
- $500 million for a new Youth Mental Health Fund will help community health organizations provide more care for younger Canadians, and better equip these organizations to refer youth to other mental health services within their networks and partnerships.
- $77.1 million over four years, starting in 2025-26, to more effectively integrate internationally educated health care professionals into Canada’s health workforce by creating 120 specific training positions, increasing assessment capacity and providing support to navigate credential recognition systems.
- $1.5 billion over five years, starting in 2024-25, to Health Canada to support the launch of the National Pharmacare Plan.
- The expansion of dental care to seniors, people with disabilities, and children under 18 years of age in 2024.
- The creation of a Sectoral Table on the Care Economy that will consult and provide recommendations to the federal government on concrete actions to better support the care economy.
- Consultations on the development of a National Caregiving Strategy.
“The people of Canada want and deserve a health system able to meet their needs, and with focused, strategic action we can reshape our system to best serve Canadians now and into the future,” said Dr. Michael Gardam, chair of the HealthCareCAN Board of Directors. “Canada’s healthcare and health research institutions are battling a perfect storm of issues right now. It’s time we double down as a nation on action, and HealthCareCAN and our members look forward to working with the federal government to improve access to care and address the severe challenges our health system is facing across the country.”
HealthCareCAN is the national voice of hospitals, health authorities, healthcare and health research organizations across Canada. We foster informed and continuous, results-oriented discovery and innovation across the healthcare continuum.
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Media contact:
Alexandria Rowe, Communications and Member Services
arowe@healthcarecan.ca| 613-230-1023
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