SASKATOON, Jan. 20, 2012 /CNW/ - The Harper Government today announced new research funding aimed at improving Canada's healthcare system.  The announcement was made by the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Don McMorris, Saskatchewan Minister of Health.

"This research is an investment that we believe will help provinces and territories reduce costs, and deliver better healthcare from coast to coast to coast," said Minister Aglukkaq.  "Ultimately it's about focusing on patients, and making sure they get the care they need."

This funding opportunity will support teams of researchers and decision-makers to conduct research in two areas: chronic disease prevention and management; and access to care for vulnerable populations, such as children, seniors, poor, elderly, and Aboriginal communities.

"Strengthening primary health services to ensure patient-centred care is key to transforming healthcare delivery," said the Honourable Don McMorris, Saskatchewan's Minister of Health. "This initiative offers health research teams in Saskatchewan and other jurisdictions the opportunity to enhance chronic disease management and better connect patients to primary care."

Effective community-based primary healthcare is linked to better health outcomes, improved equity, reduced wait times, and an improved patient experience. It has also associated with reduced costs related to hospital services and length of stay, reduced emergency department visits, reduced ambulatory episode-of-care expenditures, cost savings from early detection of cancer and other chronic diseases, and lower costs of care for diabetes and congestive heart failure among high-need patients.

"CIHR is pleased to support research in this important field," said Dr. Robyn Tamblyn, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research.  "By strengthening community-based primary healthcare, we can alleviate the pressures on Canada's healthcare system and improve health outcomes for Canadians."

The Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories to make Canada's health system more efficient, sustainable, to improve accountability and to deliver better service to Canadians.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

Cailin Rodgers, Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, 613-957-0200
David Coulombe, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 613-941-4563