As the U.S. retreats from global affairs and the world enters a new era of shifting geopolitics, Canada's role in global health is more important than ever, according to a new report co-authored by a Simon Fraser University professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in global health governance.
"We have seen growing economic and climate crises, divisive politics, backlash against human rights, and powerful waves of misinformation that are impacting health across the world," says Kelley Lee, health sciences professor and co-chair of the Canadian Academy of Health Services and Royal Society of Canada joint expert panel on global health with Professor Tim Evans, Vice-President, Research, Innovation and Impact at Concordia University.
"Canada must continue to actively engage in global health cooperation to advance the shared needs necessary to advance health and well-being both at home and abroad."
The panel was commissioned in 2023 to provide strategic insights and advice on Canada's role in global health over the next two decades. Their findings are detailed in the recently released report, "Protecting Our Collective Future: Renewing Canada's Role in Global Health."
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how health in Canada is inextricably linked with what happens in the rest of the world, Lee says. "Our report lays out seven recommendations for the next Canadian government to advance domestic and global health, not as trade-offs, but together as inseparable goals."
The report particularly highlights the critical challenges of universal health coverage, One Health health insecurity, health and well-being in a global economy, and the health workforce crisis.
Canada can play its part in tackling these priority issue areas through:
- a clearly defined global health strategy
- appointment of a global health ambassador and hub
- investments in research and innovation systems
- coordinated training of our next generation of global health researchers, policy makers and practitioners
Publication of the report is to spark timely conversations about strategy over the coming decades, she adds. The expert panel hopes global health colleagues in Canada and around the world engage with the panel's recommendations in their respective research, policy and advocacy communities.
Lee is scientific co-director (with Dr. Ève Dubé at Université Laval) of the Bridge Research Consortium, funded as part of Canada's Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub led by the University of British Columbia. The hub supports Canada's bioengineering and life sciences strategy ahead of any future pandemic.
She is also a fellow of the UK Faculty of Public Health, Royal College of Physicians, fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
Read Kelley Lee's op-ed on Canada's role in global health in The Conversation.
