Strengthening Preventive Health in Canada
The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care was established in 1976. The significance of the Task Force can be seen, for example, in its 2016 recommendations on colorectal cancer screening, which became central to preventive medicine in Canada and influenced guidelines in other countries. It was disbanded in 2005, but in 2010 it was reconstituted through a funding agreement between the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
In a press release published this week, it is emphasized that a recent review confirmed the need for expert bodies to develop evidence-based guidelines and highlighted the importance of ensuring adequate funding and support for the Task Force.
Dr. David Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waterloo and author of the commentary, chaired the external expert review panel. As Dr. Vivek Goel notes, their review confirmed that, now more than ever, expert bodies such as the Task Force are essential for producing evidence-based guidance for the public, health care providers, and health systems. The Task Force pioneered what are now standard methods of evaluating clinical interventions, not based on tradition or authority, but according to rigorous scientific evidence.
“Maintaining trust requires transparency in methods and being honest when the evidence is uncertain.”
When asked how difficult it is to provide evidence-based advice today, given that science is constantly evolving and people are increasingly aware of these changes, and how to balance adapting to new evidence with maintaining public trust, Dr. Vivek Goel told Unknown Focus that greater public awareness of and access to scientific information is generally good, as it democratizes decision-making. “However, this requires scientific literacy and numeracy skills, which are generally declining in most jurisdictions. This is compounded by the spread of misinformation and disinformation. A further challenge is conflicts of interest since there are many constituencies with a vested interest in the outcomes of recommendations. Maintaining trust requires transparency in methods and being honest when the evidence is uncertain,” said Dr. Vivek Goel.
Significant achievements on one hand and a limited budget on the other
While the Task Force has had significant achievements, it has had a limited budget. Dr. Vivek Goel explained to us that when the Task Force was first launched, there was strong political support across the country and leadership from both federal and provincial governments. “Over time, attention has shifted to other priorities-prevention is often neglected as governments focus on delivering acute health care. The public needs to ensure that attention remains focused on preventive health services.”
“Collaborations between Canada and the EU are more important than ever.”
Canada and the EU have made great strides in cooperation, which is of great importance for numerous challenges such as cancer, antimicrobial resistance, and rare diseases. The former Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, stated in 2024, “Canada is a key partner for the EU when it comes to tackling global health challenges.”
So the question is, how significant are collaborations like EU–Canada for strengthening evidence-based preventive health guidance? “Collaborations between Canada and the EU are more important than ever.” As he points out, the United States was traditionally a significant resource for evidence-based policymaking, particularly in the collection and dissemination of data essential for such work, as well as in conducting fundamental and applied research that generated the necessary evidence.
“With the U.S. cutting back on such work, it is essential that other nations collaborate to fill the gaps. We can also learn from each other how shifting social and political environments are affecting the adoption and use of evidence-based guidance,” Dr. Vivek Goel concluded.
Image: Dr David Vivek Goel
