Mobilization of science advice by the Canadian federal government to support the Covid-19 pandemic response

Datos Bibliográficos

ID22232909
AutoresDominika Bhatia (0000-0002-9621-0672, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, autor de correspondencia), Sara Allin (0000-0002-0579-8985, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, autor de correspondencia), Erica Di Ruggiero (0000-0002-8935-7908, University of Toronto, autor de correspondencia)
Año2023
Volumen10
Número1
Páginas19-19
Fecha de publicación2023-01-17
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHumanities and Social Sciences Communications (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2662-9992 • E-ISSN: 2662-9992
EditorialSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1057/s41599-023-01501-8
PMID36687774
OpenAlexW4316814357
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas30

The procurement and provision of expert-driven, evidence-informed, and independent science advice is integral to timely decision-making during public health emergencies. The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has underscored the need for sound evidence in public health policy and exposed the challenges facing government science advisory mechanisms. This paper is a jurisdictional case study describing (i) the federal science advice bodies and mechanisms for public health in Canada (i.e., the federal science advice “ecosystem”); and (ii) how these bodies and mechanisms have mobilized and evolved to procure expertise and evidence to inform decisions during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. We reviewed publicly accessible Government of Canada documents, technical reports, and peer-reviewed articles available up to December 2021. Canada’s federal landscape of science advisory bodies for public health within the Health Portfolio was largely shaped by Canada’s experiences with the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome and 2009 H1N1 outbreaks. In parallel, Canada has a designated science advisory apparatus that has seen frequent reforms since the early 2000s, with the current Office of the Chief Science Advisor created within the Science Portfolio in 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated Canada’s science advice ecosystem, with involvement from departments, expert advisory groups, and partnerships within both the federal Health and Science Portfolios. Although the engagement of federal departments outside the health sector is promising, the COVID-19 experience in Canada supports the need to institutionalize science advisory bodies for public health to improve pandemic preparedness and ensure rapid mobilization of well-coordinated and independent advice in future emergencies. This review also identified pressing areas for further inquiry to strengthen science advice for public health in Canada, including to assess the independence of science advisory actors and the interaction between federal and subnational authorities

Business · Disease · Pandemic · Political science · Portfolio · Preparedness · Public health · Public relations · Health Policy Implementation Science · Law · Medicine · Nursing · Primary Care and Health Outcomes · Public Administration · Public Health Policies and Education · Finance