COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 10- Federal Investment of $10M into Respiratory Health
Communiqué No. 10
Federal Investment of $10M into Respiratory Health
In April, 2009, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced a federal investment of $10 million for initiatives that will address gaps identified in the National Lung Health Framework, and provide information to Canadians on how to prevent, detect and better manage their respiratory diseases. This injection of funds over three years (2009 – 20012) will support the Framework to begin work in its four Strategic Areas.
The $10M investment will be allocated between 2009 and 2012 to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) of Health Canada. Both PHAC and Health Canada have been working closely with the National Lung Health Framework Steering Committee to ensure that this investment will reflect the input and priorities of stakeholders identified in the Framework, and support measures that address information gaps. These gaps include:
· A lack of general respiratory health awareness among the public and a lack of promotional activities to raise awareness;
· A lack of respiratory health information services in communities (especially for high-risk populations); and
· The need for information about disease self-management.
A set of broad categories or areas of funding have been identified, reflecting many of the goals, strategies and activities identified in the National Lung Health Framework. These broad funding areas are currently being further defined with input from the Steering Committee.
An open RFP and peer-review process will take place later this year to solicit and evaluate proposals for projects and initiatives within each area. As part of this process, a communications plan will be developed to ensure that the call for RFPs is widely distributed. A memo will also be circulated among stakeholders highlighting in detail what will be included in these RFPs, to allow stakeholders to begin preparations for proposal submissions in advance of the formal RFP launch.
From funding to action
Year One (2009-2010): Year one will focus on collecting baseline data, environmental scanning, identifying gaps and investment priorities, and promoting opportunities for collaboration, partnerships and information-sharing.
Year Two (2010-2011) & Year Three (2011-2012): Years two and three will invest in new and existing initiatives that reflect the findings of year one and which will fill gaps, identify and disseminate best-practices, promote knowledge-sharing, and continue to build partnerships. By year three, we will see a growing set of tools and information resources for all stakeholders, campaigns and awareness initiatives targeting at-risk populations, and an evaluation of how far the Framework has come and how this investment has advanced respiratory health in Canada.
About the broad funding categories
Health Promotion, Awareness and Disease Prevention
- Baseline needs assessments of current public awareness on lung disease, to determine how best to target lung health messages to Canadians. These results will inform awareness initiatives that will be developed between 2010 and 2012 – initiatives that will increase awareness about lung health and its relationship to indoor/outdoor air quality, as well as a series of targeted awareness campaigns for high-risk populations.
- An asthma awareness program for school-age children that identifies and replicates successful models
- An awareness initiative on maternal smoking issues among First Nations and Inuit Peoples
Disease Detection and Management
- Initiatives that identify and disseminate best practices to work towards improving detection and management of lung disease. This will involve developing toolkits for patients, families, and caregivers to accelerate uptake of best practices, and identifying and disseminating emerging and existing best practices in prevention and management.
- A “models of care” compendium project will begin in 2009, and will identify and disseminate emerging and existing models of care and best practices.
- An environmental scan in 2009 will identify some of the gaps and help inform the development of additional tools in 2010-2012.
Policy, Partnerships and Community/Systems Support
- In 2009, an online tool, the Knowledge Exchange Hub, will be further developed to connect key players in the respiratory health sector. This will allow for improved collaboration among stakeholders and provide access to a variety of current research and best practices in respiratory disease. It will also allow for guidelines, programs and resources to be continually updated.
- By 2011, we will have a knowledge exchange portal where professionals can meet virtually, share information, collaborate and view current research and best practices within lung health.
Research, Surveillance and Knowledge Translation
- Translating clinical guidelines for respiratory health into useable, standardized, tool kits that are available to front-line health workers nationwide.
- We will also see an initiative between 2009-2012 to adopt applicable asthma guidelines and resources in First Nations and Inuit communities.
- An initiative will take place to explore indoor air quality issues among First Nations and Inuit communities.
What does this mean for the Framework?
This federal investment is just one part of the National Lung Health Framework Action Plan. Many of the activities in the Action Plan were well underway before this funding announcement, and will produce their own results over the next three years. Other investors and industry partners have expressed interest in making funds available for additional activities. Stakeholders have also made it clear that respiratory health research requires a significant funding boost. Over the coming months the Steering Committee will be working closely with the research community to identify the steps needed to make this happen.
Mark your calendars
November 2-3, 2009…………CTS Scientific Program 2009
November 12-14, 2009………CNAC – National Respiratory Care and Education Conference
November 13-14, 2009………NS Lung Association - Atlantic Respirology and Critical Care Conference
November 24-26, 2009………….National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) National Conference
January 28-30, 2010………….ON Lung Association - Better Breathing Conference
To share your upcoming events with the respiratory community, please contact Allison Gardner by phone at 613-569-6411 x 268 or by email at agardner@lung.ca
Keeping connected
We look forward to communicating with you as we works towards turning the Framework into action. Please forward requests for information and share input by contacting:
Ainsley Chapman
Director, National Lung Health Framework
achapman@lung.ca
613.569.6411 x257