I was intrigued that Health Canada recently diverted $15 million from its population health fund into prostate cancer basic research,1 even though this is expressly prohibited by their regulations. They disregarded their own selection process by awarding $2 million per year to the Vancouver Centre of Excellence in prostate cancer research, plus $1 million per year to the National Prostate Cancer Research initiative. Was this purely coincidental, or did the former national Minister of Health's bout with prostate cancer lead to the direct or indirect application of non-academic pressure? The high political profile of AIDS also appears to be distorting objective judgement. A project with unfavourable external peer reviews received $8.75 million, and the HIV/ Aids Clearinghouse received a $2.5-million funding extension, in spite of noncompliant accounting and an earlier recommendation that $350 000 in prior payments should be recovered.
It's not that prostate cancer and AIDS aren't high-priority problems. As a male cardiovascular surgeon, I am at risk for both conditions. However, numerous internally and externally reviewed research projects must be turned down each year for lack of funding. Funding limitations also play a role in the continuing annual loss of highly talented Canadian medical researchers and teachers to the US. Thus it's critically important that Health Canada be free from the appearance of politically motivated decision-making. Health Canada needs to reassure all Canadians that limited resources are awarded in a transparent manner based primarily on merit.
G. Frank O. Tyers Professor Emeritus University of British Columbia Cardiovascular Surgery Vancouver, BC
Reference
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