Health Canada has launched a high-profile Advisory Panel on Healthcare Innovation to examine ways in which the healthcare system can be improved and made more cost-effective. Chaired by former Univ of Tor-onto president Dr David Naylor, the seven-member panel is being asked to identify the five most promising areas of innovation to sustainably reduce the growth in healthcare spending while improving quality and access, and recommend how the federal government can achieve those innovations.

The panel will have relatively little time to undertake its work, with an interim report due in January and a final report expected no later than May 31/15. Its deliberations will be guided by five principles: respect for jurisdictional roles; evidence-based; support for healthcare values as set out in the Canada Health Act; avoiding duplication of work by other bodies in related fields of inquiry; and fiscal responsibility.

On the latter directive, the panel must walk a tightrope as its terms of reference state that "recommendations must not imply either an increase or a decrease in the overall level of funding for current initiatives supporting innovation in healthcare. The recommendations must also not result in increasing spending pressure on provincial or territorial budgets".

Reaction from the largest organization representing health research in Canada is positive.

"I've worked with David before and know him well and we're happy with the fact that they have two researchers (Naylor and Cy Frank) on the panel and are using an evidence-based approach," says Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, president and CEO of Research Canada. "There's an innovation adoption deficit in biopharma, biotechnology and medical technologies … We need expertise and knowledge from both the academic and industry sectors mingling. (Health minister Rona) Ambrose understands and sees the value of innovation in healthcare. It's not about spending more and it's not about a decrease."