Government of Canada announces funding to improve health care for women and gender-diverse people
News release
August 24, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Institutes of Health Research
All women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people in Canada deserve access to culturally safe, trauma-informed, non-stigmatizing, and high-quality healthcare that reflects and respects their unique intersectional identities, no matter who they are or where they live. Nobody should be disadvantaged by discrimination and inequality and prevented from achieving their optimal health and wellness.
Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced an $8.3M investment from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)’s Institute of Gender and Health and Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) for the Pan-Canadian Women’s Health Coalition – Hubs.
There will be 10 virtual hubs across Canada that will link and form the coalition with a coordinating centre. The objectives are to mobilize and scale-up newly generated and existing knowledge and models of care, maximize research impact within and beyond the coalition, build capacity for the next generation of women's health researchers through training and mentorship opportunities embedded within the hub, and engage in community-based priority setting activities as well as identify future critical areas of women's health research based on community, regional and/or national needs.
The hubs will focus on key priority areas, such as the health of Indigenous Peoples, gender-diverse people, women living with HIV, and women who are incarcerated. The hubs will also focus on reproductive health, prevention of violence against women and girls, and achieving greater equity in health services.
A separate funding opportunity for the coordinating centre was launched in June 2023. The hubs and the coordinating centre will work together to maximize the visibility and impact of women’s health research and practice in Canada by committing to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenous Rights.
Quotes
“Every person in Canada, no matter their sex or gender, deserves equitable access to a healthy future while being their true and authentic self. Congratulations to all the research teams and thank you for your work in improving care so women and gender-diverse communities get the high-quality care they need.”
The Honourable Mark Holland
Minister of Health
“Access to high-quality healthcare is not just a privilege, it’s a human right. I believe that this investment in the Pan-Canadian Women’s Health Coalition Hubs will play a vital role in creating a healthcare system that is effective, inclusive, and culturally appropriate, through important research that is addressing the unique needs of women and gender-diverse people in Canada.”
The Honourable Marci Ien
Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
“Women’s health researchers, care providers and community leaders are united by a common goal: to improve the health and well-being of all women and gender-diverse people in Canada. I am excited to see how the funded teams mobilize research evidence to transform women’s health policies, systems and services, and look forward to the opportunities ahead for the next generation of women’s health researchers.”
Dr. Angela Kaida
Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health
Quick facts
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The National Women's Health Research Initiative is a joint initiative between CIHR and WAGE announced as part of the 2021 federal budget.
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The initiative aims to ensure that Canadians with lived and living experience navigating women's health care have access to gender-sensitive, culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, non-stigmatizing, evidence-based and high-quality health care throughout their lifetimes that reflects and respects the intersection of their unique biological, social, and cultural identities.
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The initiative goes beyond the sex and gender binary and welcomes the experiences and needs of all people who identify as a woman, girl, intersex, and/or an under-represented gender identity, including, but not limited to, Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, gender fluid, and agender people.
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Contacts
Guillaume Bertrand
Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Mark Holland
Minister of Health
guillaume.bertrand@hc-sc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Johise Namwira
Press Secretary and Issues Manager
Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
873-353-0985
Johise.Namwira@fegc-wage.gc.ca
Media Relations
Women and Gender Equality Canada
819-420-6530
FEGC.Media.WAGE@fegc-wage.gc.ca
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At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada's health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.
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