Raison d'être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do
Raison d'être
Health Canada upholds the public health care system, expands access to health services, helps to reduce health risks, and supports Canadians in making informed health decisions.
Mandate and role
At Health Canada, the mission is to help Canadians maintain and improve their health. As a regulator, service provider, promoter of innovation, and trusted source of information, the Department is a key partner in health for all Canadians. While provinces and territories are primarily responsible for delivering health care, the federal government also has a role in areas that affect health and health care, including administering the Canada Health Act. In addition to collaborating closely with provincial and territorial governments, the Department works with partners within the Health Portfolio (such as the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada Food Inspection Agency, and Canadian Institutes of Health Research), as well as other federal departments and agencies, non-governmental organizations, Indigenous partners, international partners, and the private sector.
As a partner in health, Health Canada supports activities that:
- Uphold and protect the publicly funded health care system
- Promote innovation in health care
- Expand access to oral health care to eligible Canadian residents
- Protect Canadians from unsafe food, health and consumer products
- Inform Canadians so they can make healthy choices
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