🍁 civid v1

Purpose and status

• Bill S-243, at second reading, would require a national framework to improve women’s health outcomes and access to care, support equitable investment in women’s health research and innovation, and promote health-focused entrepreneurship led by women.
• The provided text does not amend an existing law or specify funding amounts.

National framework

• The Minister of Health would develop the framework in consultation with other federal ministers, provincial and territorial health representatives, Indigenous peoples and relevant stakeholders, including civil society.
• The framework would have to include measures addressing:
  • Research and innovation investment, best practices and commercialization.
  • Public-private collaboration on women’s health and women-led innovation.
  • Women’s health education and training for health professionals.
  • Primary care and prevention across women’s life stages.
  • Access barriers, including for women in rural and remote communities, Indigenous women, 2SLGBTQI+ women, women from visible minorities and women without consistent care.
• The minister would have to hold at least one conference to develop the framework and additional conferences at least every three years after the Act comes into force.
• The minister would also have to make all reasonable efforts to put women’s health on the agenda at every meeting of federal, provincial and territorial health ministers.

Reports and deadlines

• Within one year of the Act coming into force: the minister must prepare a report on the framework’s priorities and implementation strategy. It must be tabled in each House within 15 sitting days after completion and published on the Department of Health website within 10 days after tabling.
• Within five years after that report is tabled: the minister must prepare a report on the framework’s effectiveness, research and innovation investments, and provincial and territorial collaboration for improved health outcomes and health-care professional funding models. It must include conclusions and recommendations and be tabled in each House within 15 sitting days after completion.