Preventive health care task force on brink?

After 25 years' service, Canada's Task Force on Preventive Health Care may be forced to close its doors. “This would represent a real loss in the profile of prevention in Canada,” said Dr. John Feightner, its chair. For most of the task force's history, Health Canada has funded the group. Now, after a brief period during which it received joint provincial and federal funding, it has been returned to Health Canada. However, the task force has not received any federal funding this year. Health Canada did not respond to a request for a comment on future funding.

The task force is an independent scientific panel that helps physicians put research findings into clinical practice. It looks at a wide range of health issues, such as osteoporosis, colorectal cancer, breast self-examination and domestic violence, and helps clinicians choose the proper tests and counselling and prevention methods. Feightner says most industry-supported guidelines focus on treatment rather than prevention. “We have always functioned independently and we are not linked to our resource base in any way.” He hopes to obtain sustainable funding to continue the task force and to plan for the future. “If this situation isn't resolved,” he said, “we will not be able to maintain our activities.” — Allison Gandey, CMAJ