SFU expert co-authors new report on Canada’s critical role in global health
Reprinted with permission from SFU News
by Robyn Stubbs
As the U.S. retreats from global affairs and the world enters a new era of shifting geopolitics, Canada鈥檚 role in global health is more important than ever, according to a new report co-authored by a 尤物视频 professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in global health governance.
鈥淲e 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,鈥� 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.
鈥淐anada 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.鈥�
The panel was commissioned in 2023 to provide strategic insights and advice on Canada鈥檚 role in global health over the next two decades. Their findings are detailed in the recently released report, 鈥�.鈥�
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how health in Canada is inextricably linked with what happens in the rest of the world, Lee says. 鈥淥ur 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.鈥�
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鈥檚 recommendations in their respective research, policy and advocacy communities.
Lee is scientific co-director (with Dr. 脠ve Dub茅 at Universit茅 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鈥檚 .