The Canadian Institute for Health Information released a major research report documenting health disparities by urban neighbourhood which: documents pervasive health differences between affluent and poor neighbourhoods; reviews consistent research findings on the adverse health impact of poor housing, environment, lack of access to heath and social; services, adequate food, transportation and recreational facilities;
Health systems and Health equity
HIV Care and LHINs
In November I spoke at a meeting of the Ontario Society of Physicians in HIV Care and discussed the implications of the LHINs for their work (download the speaking notes here). While HIV will remain a provincial strategy and community-based programmes will be funded centrally, and while primary care is beyond the formal mandate of […]
WHO On The Social Determinants of Health
The World Health Organization's European Office continues to provide comprehensive research and analysis on how a social determinants of health approach can be better incorporated into state policy. It supports a WHO Collaborating centre for Policy Research on Social Determinants of Health at the University of Liverpool in England. Recent reports include a discussion paper […]
Public-Private Partnerships for Hospitals
A recent bulletin of the World Health Organization had a useful survey article on public-private partnerships for hospitals. Its summary follows: “.While some forms of public”private partnerships are a feature of hospital construction and operation in all countries with mixed economies, there is increasing interest in a model in which a public authority contracts with […]
Conference Board Roundtable on the Social Determinants of Health
I spoke to a Conference Board Roundtable on the Social Determinants of Health in late October. The Roundtable intends to bring together government, community, research and business leaders to address ways to develop and implement public policy that would address the various social and economic determinants.
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Social Determinants of Health Applied to Social Policy
A recent report commissioned by the Alberta Coalition for Healthy School Communities provides an interesting example of a social determinants of health approach being applied in different fields of social policy. The report analyzed the link between social and economic inequality, associated health disparities and unequal education outcomes. It argued that addressing these connections had […]
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The Episodic Disabilities Project
Principal Organization: Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation (CWGHR) Principal Investigator: Eileen McKee People living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) often experience unpredictable episodes of illness or disability as a side effect of medical treatment. A review of disability income support and employment policies suggests that these programs do not meet the needs of PHAs suffering […]
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Community Engagement in Ontario and Beyond
There has been a great deal of discussion of community engagement in health planning in Ontario. Both the LHINs as they are beginning to plan out regional priorities and the Province as it is developing its new overall health strategy want to involve as many communities and individuals as possible. It is always useful to […]
Congratulations to Fife House
Congratulations to Fife House who have received a US$ 500,000 grant from the MAC AIDS Fund to expand their innovative transitional housing programme for people living with HIV/AIDS. We were pleased to have funded previous research that Fife House and other partners have been able to leverage so well into research and programme development that […]
Community Consultations and LHINs
One of the major challenges of community engagement processes such as the recent consultation undertaken by the Toronto Central LHIN is ensuring that the full diversity of voices and perspectives are heard. Access Alliance, a Toronto Community Health Centre focussing on the health needs of immigrant and refugee communities, was concerned that these communites had […]