News Release
The Council of Canadian Academies recently received a new question for assessment regarding timely access to health and social data for health research and health system innovation in Canada. The question, referred to the Council by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), asks: What is the current state of knowledge surrounding timely access to health and social data for health research and health system innovation in Canada?
Canada’s health care system faces the same challenges as that of many other OECD member countries including rising costs, population shifts, quality of care, accountability, and the effective integration of information and communication technologies (ICTs). While the Canadian health care system is a point of pride for many, if Canada is to continue to show leadership in this area, timely access to relevant data is an important consideration. The Council’s assessment will examine the full range of barriers and challenges that limit access to health data, and assess evidence pertaining to risks and opportunities of “big data” research. The assessment will also consider the best practices of Canadian and international health research institutions with respect to data management and governance.
The Council’s Board of Governors has officially approved the question, and preliminary background research has begun. An expert panel will be assembled in 2013. The panel will consist of experts from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds to ensure the most authoritative, credible, and independent responses to the question.
The Council of Canadian Academies offers science-based insights and evidence to enrich Canadian policy development and decision-making. This is achieved by harnessing the collective wisdom of the finest minds to develop independent, authoritative, and evidence-based expert assessments on the issues that matter most to Canadians.
To learn more about the Council’s active assessments, visit Assessments in Progress.
For more information, please contact:
Sam Rae Ayoub
Senior Manager, Communications
Council of Canadian Academies
613 698-6765