New website delivers non-partisan expertise, evidence
(Winnipeg) – A new website is being launched today to provide on-call expertise on health policy issues for Canadian journalists: EvidenceNetwork.ca
Healthcare is a top-of-mind issue for Canadians and a complex and demanding subject for journalists to cover. That’s why health researchers from across Canada have come together to make evidence and experts available via a comprehensive online resource designed for journalists covering health policy issues.
EvidenceNetwork.ca was created under the direction of Dr. Noralou Roos, the Founding Director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, with a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Manitoba Health Research Council (MHRC). Additional support was provided by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF).
“The idea for this site came out of a series of discussions with journalists and health policy experts from across the country. Health policy issues are increasingly complex and are too often taken over by politics and ideology,” says Dr. Roos. “We thought the best way to serve the Canadian public would be to create an accessible and reliable resource where journalists can quickly find independent experts and evidence on issues as they arise.”
EvidenceNetwork.ca will provide evidence-based, non-partisan current information on controversial health policy issues such as the sustainability of the healthcare system, the impact of the aging population, the rising costs of drugs, accessibility and appropriateness of care, and the role of the private sector. The site offers background papers and will allow journalists to quickly connect with health experts as they report on breaking health policy stories.
"It is often a challenge for journalists to access and accurately interpret research findings, especially when on a deadline," said Dr. Ian Graham, Vice-President of Knowledge Translation at CIHR. “I congratulate Dr. Roos and her colleagues for creating a resource that will help facilitate evidence-informed reporting of health policy issues in Canada."
“Quite simply, we want to raise the bar when it comes to reporting on healthcare,” says Dr. Roos. “Our goal is to be the go-to source for information on controversial health policy topics and to help keep the debates on healthcare grounded in facts and evidence.”
For more information, including contact information for affiliated health experts, please visit www.evidencenetwork.ca
To book an interview with Dr. Noralou Roos contact:
Kathleen O’Grady, Director, QUOI Media Group
mobile: +613-897-9276 email: kathleen54@rogers.com twitter: @quoimedia