Ottawa creates panel on health care innovation

June 24, 2014 – The federal government has launched an advisory panel on health-care innovation aimed at improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of Canada's health system.

Health Minister Rona Ambrose announced the official launch of the panel in Toronto as members held their first meeting to discuss how various innovations could bring the greatest value to Canada's health-care system.

Former University of Toronto president Dr. David Naylor will chair the
body, which is made up of prominent Canadians from a variety of
backgrounds.

Ambrose says innovation within the health system is
essential to ensure the future sustainability and quality of care for
Canadians.

Over the next year, the panel will look at creative
approaches being applied to health care in both Canadian jurisdictions
and abroad, and recommend how Ottawa can adopt and support them.

The
panel's mandate includes meeting with provincial and territorial
representatives and seeking the input of Canadians and organizations
with an interest in health-care innovation.

“We know more money
is not the solution,” Ambrose says in a statement. “It is time to get
innovative and ensure our health-care system continues to improve.”

Naylor
says that “given the pace of technological and social change, every
health-care system must innovate relentlessly to maintain quality,
accessibility and affordability.”

Other panel members include Dr.
Cyril Frank, CEO of Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions; Medtronic
president Neil Fraser; Francine Girard, dean of nursing at the
Universite de Montreal; Jack Mintz and Toby Jenkins, both of the School
of Public Policy at the University of Calgary; Chris Power, CEO of
Capital Health in Halifax; and Heather Reisman, chair and CEO of Indigo
bookstores.