A Pan-Canadian Vision and Strategy for Health Services and Policy Research

To position Canada as a global leader in health services and policy research that optimizes health and health system outcomes, the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (CIHR-IHSPR), provincial health research funding organizations, and many of Canada’s health charities partnered with the community to develop the first-ever pan-Canadian vision and strategy for health services and policy research (HSPR).

The results of the first year of collaboration are complete and available in a comprehensive report, complementary asset map and Pan-Canadian Vision and Strategy for Health Services and Policy Research.

A portrait of Canada’s investments, assets and resources

The Phase 1 report and inaugural asset map represent an important first step in our understanding of the HSPR enterprise in Canada and, more specifically, the HSPR funding landscape.

Among many interesting and new insights, the analysis shows that Canada funds and conducts a substantial and increasing amount of HSPR, that HSPR investments reflect the priorities that have dominated health care agendas over the past 10 years, that HSPR capacity is clustered in certain regions across the country, and that greater investment may be needed in areas related to financing and sustainability, change management and scaling up innovation.

The asset map provides a visual portrait of Canada’s total investments in HSPR, priority research areas, people and knowledge translation (as well as the funders), and allows for province-by-province analyses and breakdowns by academic institution.

The Asset Map and Phase 1 Report provided a foundation for development of the Pan-Canadian Health Services and Policy Research Strategy and will continue to be refined to support growth and evolution of HSPR in Canada.

Building the Vision and Strategy

Building on the Phase 1 Report and asset map foundation, the development of the Pan-Canadian Vision and Strategy relied on broad and deep consultations, including:

Key informant interviews with over 50 leaders from across the country;
A survey of the HSPR community;
An invitational Priorities Forum which brought together federal and provincial research funders, policy and decision makers, health charities, health care professionals, patient representatives, and researchers to identify the critical elements of a high-performing HSPR enterprise in Canada and priorities for future investment;
A Café Scientifique to garner public input; and
A keynote plenary at the May 2014 Canadian Association of Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR) conference.

CAHSPR presentations

Pan-Canadian Vision and Strategy for Health Services and Policy Research

The Pan-Canadian Vision and Strategy for Health Services and Policy Research is now complete. The document sets out a vision, a suite of strategic directions and research priorities for Canada’s HSPR community, developed by Canada’s HSPR and stakeholder community. It establishes a context against which the HSPR community can plan, collaborate and act to optimize HSPR investments, strengthen the HSPR enterprise and position Canada as a leader in the evidence-informed improvement of health and health system outcomes.

A Canadian Health Services and Policy Research Alliance

An exciting outcome of the April 2014 Priorities Forum and Strategy Development work has been the establishment of a Canadian Health Services and Policy Research Alliance (CHSPRA) of partners, stakeholders and HSPR leaders who are committed to advancing the vision, strategic directions and research priorities outlined in this document. The Alliance will aim to bring greater collaboration and coordination to HSPR activity and investment in Canada and optimize the relevance and impact of HSPR investments in high-priority areas of pan-Canadian interest. This Alliance provides an important vehicle for advancement of the Pan-Canadian Vision and Strategy for Health Services and Policy Research.