Health Information Roadmap: Responding to Needs
In early 1998, the Federal Minister of Health’s Advisory Council on Health Infostructure, the Canadian Institute
for Health Information (CIHI), and Statistics Canada brought together over 500 people, including health administrators,
researchers, caregivers, government officials, health advocacy groups, and consumers, to identify health information needs.
The result of these national consultations was the Health Information Roadmap—a document that outlines a national vision
for modernizing health information in Canada so that we can have better information for better health and health care.
On February 16, 1999, the federal government announced its commitment to fund the first three to four years of the
Roadmap Initiative as part of an overall national plan. This announcement follows the recommendations made by the
Advisory Council on Health Infostructure in its final report, released in early February 1999.
The Health Information Roadmap will involve a series of projects to be led by CIHI, Statistics Canada and other
partners across the country. Projects are designed to complement and build on initiatives currently already under
way or under development at the national level and in Canada’s provinces and territories.
The key areas for action under the Health Information Roadmap are:
- Consulting with key stakeholders across the country to confirm priorities in order to meet broad health information needs;
- Developing standards to ensure the consistent collection, sharing and interpretation of health information;
- Filling in gaps in information on health services and related costs and outcomes;
- Filling in gaps in information on population health and factors that affect our health;
- Creating a Canadian Population Health Initiative to provide new information and insights on health and the health system; and
- Producing regular, easy-to-understand public reports and conducting special studies on the health of
Canadians and the health system.
Confidentiality a Priority
Strong privacy principles, as well as effective safeguards for the confidentiality and security of personal
health information, will guide these efforts.
Collaboration the Key to Success
The success of the Roadmap depends on the collaboration and cooperation of all levels of government,
national institutions, and regional and local health organizations. The active involvement of other stakeholders,
such as the public, health advocacy groups, researchers, caregivers and administrators at all levels is also essential.
Governance of the Roadmap Initiative
To ensure this range of views and interests is reflected throughout the life of the Initiative, the Roadmap
investments will be governed and administered by CIHI’s Board of Directors. The Institute’s 15-member Board is
proportionally constituted to create a balance among health sectors and the regions of Canada. It links federal,
provincial, and territorial governments with non-government, health-related groups.
CIHI’s Board will set up appropriate, transparent and collaborative mechanisms for the development and
implementation of the Roadmap projects.
Full Report
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