PACP Committee News Release
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Standing Committee on Public Accounts |
HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6 |
Comité permanent des comptes publics |
For immediate release
NEWS RELEASE
CONCERNS PERSIST OVER CANADA'S DISEASE CONTROL PROGRAMS
Ottawa, May 27, 2009 -
The Public Health Agency of Canada has a leadership role in responding to public health threats, but serious concerns persist over Canada’s health surveillance and disease control programs, according to a report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts presented in the House of Commons today by Chair Shawn Murphy, MP.
The Public Health Agency of Canada was created in the wake of the SARS epidemic to coordinate efforts to respond to public health threats. “Timely health actions can contain disease outbreaks, reduce the economic costs of infectious diseases, and save the lives of Canadians,” said Committee Chair Shawn Murphy.
An audit by the Office of the Auditor General found that in order to obtain routine surveillance information, PHAC relied on the goodwill of the provinces and territories. However, due to deficiencies in formal information-sharing agreements with the provinces, PHAC was not assured of receiving timely, accurate, and complete information. The Auditor General also found that PHAC had not made satisfactory progress on implementing its past recommendations related to strategic direction, data quality, results measurement, and information sharing.
The Public Accounts Committee is concerned that although PHAC has agreed to implement the recommendations contained in the audit, it has not shown sufficient urgency or focus in making the necessary changes. “Fundamental changes are needed to PHAC’s surveillance systems, and that the lack of progress in implementing past recommendations has put the health of Canadians unnecessarily at risk,” commented Murphy.
In order to ensure that a more formal information gathering system are implemented, the Committee recommended that PHAC develop a proposed timeline for negotiating information sharing agreements with the provinces and territories, and provide the Committee with an annual status report until the Auditor General’s recommendations are fully implemented.
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