Program

Definitions, examples, and why health policy matters in Canada. Introduction to the underlying social values (e.g., equity, universality, solidarity, autonomy) that inform health policy debates and decisions.

Moderator: PG Forest, Professor, University of Montreal

Discussants: Terry Lake, Former BC Minister of Health; Marcel Saulnier, Health Policy Consultant; PG Forest, Professor, University of Montreal

Learning objectives:

• Understand the role of values – notions of distributive justice, equity, priorities, desired outcomes
• Understand the basic elements of policy – law, rules and regulations, structures, standards, eligibility, entitlements
• Understand health system financing – where money comes from, where it goes, what’s public, what’s private, allocative dilemmas

Overview of issues identified by government – why they are important, nature of decisions required, possibilities and constraints.

Moderator: Janet Davidson, Consultant
Discussants: Kelly Lamrock, New Brunswick’s Child, Youth and Seniors’ Advocate; Dean Regier, Associate Professor, UBC

Learning objectives:

• Gain perspective on health policy imperatives in Canada
• Understand how values, elements of policy, and financing apply to real world issues

How interest holder values and interests shape resource allocation decisions. Interest holders: government, professional bodies, Indigenous organizations, civil society, industry, and the public.

Moderator: Steven Lewis, Consultant
Discussants: Bonnie Brossart, Former CEO, Saskatchewan Medical Association; Verna Yiu, Provost and Vice President Academic, University of Alberta; Cynthia Johansen, Deputy Minister, BC Ministry of Health

Learning objectives:

• Understand who the key policy actors are (government, professions, institutions, vendors, media, interest groups)
• Understand where the tensions are (public interest vs. particular interests; supply side vs. demand side)

Case studies of how research-based evidence does and doesn’t appear to influence decision-making (e.g., drug formulary committees, long term care spending, harm reduction) and lessons learned.

Moderator: John Sproule, Senior Policy Director, Institute of Health Economics
Discussants: Julia Abelson, Professor, McMaster University; Terry Lake, Former BC Minister of Health; Jason Sutherland, Professor, UBC

Learning objectives:

• Understand the key factors that affect decision-making
• Recognize different types of evidence that come into play

Open discussion of key takeaways from Day 1.

Moderator: Steven Lewis, Consultant

Moderator: Jason Sutherland, Professor, UBC

Overview of how evaluation frameworks and criteria are developed; assessing value for money; the difficulty of attribution; accountability in the health system; key elements of policy evaluation; and how to design for maximum impact.

Moderator: PG Forest, Professor, University of Montreal
Discussants: Amy Salmon, Director, Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes; Bonnie Brossart, Former CEO, Saskatchewan Medical Association; Marcel Saulnier, Health Policy Consultant

Learning objectives:

• Understand the different dimensions of performance
• Understand the importance of targets, data, and choosing indicators
• Understand the realities of intended and unintended consequences

Analyze a current policy issue (e.g., surgical wait lists or physician supply) – describe the problem, the political factors, resource implications, and values underlying various options.

Moderator: Alex Berland, Consultant
Discussants: Kirsten Marchand, Assistant Professor, UBC; Kelly Lamrock, New Brunswick’s Child, Youth and Seniors’ Advocate

Learning objectives:

• Demonstrate the practical application of what has been learned to date
• Understand the dilemmas encountered by decision-makers

Propose a new policy initiative and define its objectives; describe two or three main options and what distinguishes them; and list criteria for assessing the options.

Moderator: PG Forest, Professor, University of Montreal
Discussant: Cynthia Johansen, Deputy Minister, BC Ministry of Health

Learning objectives:

• Illustrate key concepts such as opportunity cost and prioritization
• Understand how different options align with different values, interests, etc.

Overview of how health policies factor into political campaigns; how public opinion is formed; conflicts between public opinion and scientific evidence; insights and lessons from polling in health care, from methods (interpretive challenges, sampling) to evidence about impact, how governments use, examples of where polling has unearthed changing priorities and sentiments.

Moderator: Steven Lewis, Consultant
Discussant: Shachi Kurl, President, Angus Reid Institute

Learning objectives:

• Understand the sources of influence on public opinion
• Recognize the importance of communication – who controls the narrative, how arguments are framed
• Understand the key actors and how they mobilize support

Round table on what participants learned, what went well, what could have been better, and suggestions for next year.

Moderator: Steven Lewis, Consultant