Ontario investing $20 million in health innovation
The government is adopting all six recommendations from the Ontario Health Innovation Council (OHIC) to support more Ontario-made health technologies, improve patient care and spur economic growth.
As proposed in the 2015 Ontario budget, the government will:
- Create a dedicated Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist to champion Ontario as a centre for health technology innovation
- Establish a new $20 million Health Technology Innovation Evaluation Fund to support made-in-Ontario technologies
- Use newly created Innovation Broker positions to connect innovators and researchers with opportunities in the health care system
- Streamline the adoption of health care innovations across the health system
- Shift to procurement practices that focus on outcomes, such as fewer hospital readmissions and the long-term value of medical devices
- Invest in the assessment of emerging innovative health technologies to get those products to market faster.
Investing in Ontario’s health technology innovations is part of the government’s plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which is providing patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the information they need to stay healthy and a health care system that’s sustainable for generations to come.
Quick Facts
- OHIC delivered its report, The Catalyst, to the government in late 2014.
- Ontario is the third-largest hub for biotech and the fourth largest biomedical research centre in North America.
- Ontario’s medical devices sector employs more than 17,000 people in 900 manufacturing firms, accounting for 49 per cent of total Canadian medical devices employment.
Background Information
Additional Resources
- Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care
- The Catalyst: Report of the Ontario Health Innovation Council Report
- Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs health partners that includes MaRS Excellence in Clinical Innovation and Technology Evaluation, Ontario Centres of Excellence and the Health Technology Exchange.
Quotes
“Today’s announcement recognizes the depth of innovation that exists here in Ontario, and its role both in transforming our health care system and in improving the patient experience. With the support of Ontario’s new Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist, those ideas and inventions will make their way into our health care system–be it a hospital, a doctor’s office, or a long-term care home–to change the way we deliver care for the benefit of patients. It’s a win for Ontario’s patients, a win for the health care system, and a win for Ontario’s economy.”
Dr. Eric Hoskins
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“I am proud of the incredible research capacity and innovative talent we have fostered in our province. The implementation of the council’s recommendations will seize the opportunity to leverage these strengths for the benefit of not only our health care system, but our economy. Expanding our health technology sector will support job creation, increase the sustainability of the health system, and lead to tangible benefits for all Ontarians.”
Reza Moridi
Minister of Research and Innovation
“By focussing more on the value of health outcomes when procuring related solutions, we can ignite the market for innovative health care technology in Ontario. We will continue to work with key stakeholders through our Innovation Procurement Initiative in order to develop a leading procurement approach for the province. Our government is committed to providing Ontarians with the best and most efficient care possible, and these initiatives will help further support patient care and facilitate long-term cost savings.”
David Orazietti
Minister of Government and Consumer Services
“I am very excited about the Ontario Government’s bold response to our council recommendations, which will be pivotal in enabling person-centred care, creating a more sustainable health care system and supporting a growing economy. By putting innovation at the core of our health care system, we will empower the brightest minds and talented entrepreneurs to find new solutions that will enable people to manage their wellness and interact with clinicians in more effective ways.”
Dr. Dave Williams
Chair of the Ontario Health Innovation Council and CEO of Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket
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