An active role in public discourse

The Royal College provides government decision makers with informed and critical analysis on a wide range of issues and trends that affect our health system. Recent activities include the following.

Preventing injuries

On December 14, 2010, by invitation, Louis Hugo Francescutti, MD, PhD, MPH, FRCPC, FACPM, CCFP, ICD.D, President of the Royal College, submitted a brief on injury prevention to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health. Called, Injuries are not accidents — they are a preventable disease, the brief highlights leading practices in injury prevention that are proven to save lives, improve the well-being of Canadians, cut hospital visits and reduce health-care costs.

Recommendations call for establishing and funding a National Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Strategy. The strategy would include the creation of a Canadian Injury Prevention Network to facilitate knowledge exchange, and the development of a national injury prevention, education and intervention campaign that leverages and supports federal/provincial/territorial, local and grass-roots initiatives.

Building firm foundations for high-quality patient care

On August 13, 2010, the Royal College submitted a brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. The brief identified priorities in health care that will contribute to a healthier society, better patient care, enhanced systems, improved productivity — and that will reduce the challenges and burdens facing physicians and surgeons. The submission, called Bridging the Gap, Building Collaborative Foundations for an Effective and Efficient Health Care System, covers areas that build foundations; it focuses on solutions for delivering high-quality patient care and the system that delivers it.

Health human resources

In April 2009, the Royal College appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health to provide crucial input into this committee's deliberations on issues and trends affecting the provision of health human resources across the continuum of care. Read the submission.

An accessible, sustainable and accountable health care system

In the fall of 2009, the Royal College appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance to advise on the fiscal priorities of the federal government and what is needed to ensure an accessible, sustainable and accountable health care system to meet the needs of Canadians. Read the submission.