The COVID-19 pandemic showcased the benefits of investing in health research and innovation. Canadian researchers helped lead the global fight against COVID-19, by first profiling the body’s immune response to the virus and developing the lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA to the body’s cells – a breakthrough based on 40 years of research.
Canadians are proud of these achievements and consider health research to be a priority. Recent public opinion polling found that the vast majority (91%) of those polled believe health research makes an important contribution to healthcare and (81%) said it makes an important contribution to the economy.
However, the pandemic also exposed many gaps in Canada’s health research ecosystem. If Canada is to emerge stronger following the pandemic, a fundamental shift in how governments view and support health research is needed.
To this end, HealthCareCAN‘s Vice Presidents of Health Research Committee (VPRs) is working to identify key priorities for federal action to ensure this shift in view occurs and results in meaningful support.
What actions can Canada take to support the health research sector?
Why must Canada better support the health research sector?
HealthCareCAN actions to strengthen health research and innovation
Increased investments will ensure Canada’s health research sector can:
Investments in health research: How Canada compares internationally (% of GDP, as of 2019)
Sources: Tax Policy Centre, AAAS, AIHW, HM Treasury, CIHI, CIHR
Canada spends only 1.5% of its total healthcare budget on health research
Source: Research Canada. 2019. Canada Speaks! 2019 Poll.
A pan-Canadian clinical trials network ensures that:
Source: Innovative Medicines Canada Clinical trials in Canada: A pandemic snapshot
An even playing field for healthcare organizations, including research institutes in the federal research and innovation ecosystem mean that:
With the right tools to effectively communicate and share data and information, the health research sector could:
HealthCareCAN's submission to the Standing Committee on Finance’s Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2025 Federal Budget - Read now!
August 2, 2024
No summer slowdown as HealthCareCAN keeps influencing implementation of budget commitments
July 22, 2024
HealthCareCAN's submission to the federal research granting councils consultation on the creation of a new capstone research funding organization - Read now!
July 17, 2024
Listen: The HQ Podcast featuring Dr. David Hill, Ellen Chesney and Cindy Trytten - go “beyond the lab” to learn the importance of a strong Canadian health research ecosystem
March 12, 2024
Fixing health system flaws requires better data sharing and workforce strategies, say health-care experts
February 14, 2024
The federal government is failing Canadian health research - Op-Ed by Paul-Émile Cloutier, president & CEO
February 14, 2024
Advocating for your health in a flooded healthcare system - Interview with Dr. Michael Gardam, Chair of HealthCareCAN's Board of Directors.
January 29, 2024
Research, human resources, infrastructure: Three hospital execs weigh in on where the feds should step in - Article in Hill Times Research
October 17, 2023
Experts call on Health Minister Duclos to rise to challenge of health-care system transformation - Interview with Paul-Émile Cloutier, President & CEO
April 24, 2023
Submission to Standing Committee on Science and Research Study on The New Capstone Research Funding Organization Announced in Budget 2024
Research & innovation / Year 2024
Submission to the Federal Government’s Consultation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Compute
Infrastructure / Research & innovation / Year 2024
Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance’s Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2025 Federal Budget
Health human resources / Infrastructure / Patient safety / Pre-budget submissions / Research & innovation / Year 2025
Submission to the federal research granting councils consultation on the creation of a new capstone research funding organization
Research & innovation / Year 2024
Submission to the Standing Committee on Science and Research: Study on The Distribution of Federal Government Funding Among Canada’s Post-Secondary Institutions
Research & innovation / Year 2024
An overview of the Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and global efforts to respond to a major public health threat
Patient safety / Research & innovation / Year 2023
Canada’s healthcare: Promoting transformation of the system
Health human resources / Infrastructure / Long-term care / Mental health / Patient safety / Research & innovation / Year 2023
Submission to the Standing Committee on Science and Research for its Study on the Government of Canada’s Graduate Scholarship and Post-Doctoral Fellowship Programs
Research & innovation / Year 2023
Submission to the Standing Committee on Science and Research: Study on International Moonshot Programs
Infrastructure / Research & innovation / Year 2023
HealthCareCAN submission to Finance Canada’s 2023 Pre-Budget Consultations
Health human resources / Infrastructure / Long-term care / Mental health / Pre-budget submissions / Research & innovation / Year 2023
Submission to the consultation on building the future of clinical trials at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Research & innovation / Year 2022
Submission to the Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System
Research & innovation / Year 2022
Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance: Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2023 Federal Budget
Health human resources / Infrastructure / Long-term care / Mental health / Pre-budget submissions / Research & innovation / Year 2023
Submission to the Standing Committee on Health: Study on the Emergency Situation Facing Canadians in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Health human resources / Indigenous health / Infrastructure / Long-term care / Mental health / Research & innovation / Year 2022
Submission to the Standing Committee on Health: Study on Children’s Health
Health human resources / Infrastructure / Research & innovation / Year 2022
Submission to the Standing Committee on Science and Research: Study on the Successes, Challenges and Opportunities for Science in Canada
Infrastructure / Research & innovation / Year 2022
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