(Chapter 5-Surveillance of Infectious Diseases-Public Health Agency of Canada)
Ottawa, 6 May 2008-Weaknesses remain in some aspects of infectious disease surveillance by the Public Health Agency of Canada, despite important steps toward improvement since her Office last reported on the issue in 2002, says Sheila Fraser, the Auditor General of Canada, in her Report tabled today in the House of Commons. Created in 2004, the Agency leads federal efforts in the surveillance of infectious diseases.
"Well-informed and rapid public health actions based on effective surveillance can help prevent and contain outbreaks, reduce the economic burden of infectious diseases, and ultimately save lives," said Ms. Fraser.
Surveillance is the ongoing, systematic collection and analysis of health data for the purposes of guiding timely public health action. The audit found that the Agency has surveillance systems in place to detect and monitor existing and emerging infectious diseases in Canada.
However, the audit found a lack of progress by the Agency in a number of areas previously reported, among them a lack of information-sharing agreements with the provinces and territories. While the Agency is getting much of the information it asks for from provinces and territories, without formal agreements it must rely on their goodwill.
The Report notes that outbreaks of diseases such as SARS and avian flu have underscored the need to track and report cases of infectious diseases, and international reporting requirements have increased as a result. The lack of information-sharing agreements could mean that in the event of a public health emergency, the Agency might not be able to assess the situation and notify the World Health Organization as quickly as required.
The Report acknowledges that the Agency had to deal with the demands of launching a new organization and that it needs the collaboration of the provinces and territories to achieve results in some areas.
"The lengthy process of reaching agreements with all provinces and territories is a challenge for the Agency. However, formal agreements will help ensure that the information it receives is timely, complete, and accurate," said Ms. Fraser.
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The chapter "Surveillance of Infectious Diseases" is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.
For more information, please visit the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.
