I am grateful to Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq for her response1 to my article.2
I am concerned, however, that the minister indicates that the article “did not include key facts,” including what she describes as “$25 million to support research addressing suicide, tuberculosis, oral health and obesity as part of the Pathways to Health Equity for Aboriginal Peoples initiative.”
The article clearly states that “the federal government … is shifting Aboriginal health research funding under the rubric of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research … CIHR has invested $151.5 million in health research related to Aboriginal peoples’ health since 2006, including $31 million in fiscal 2010/11 … CIHR launched a $25 million initiative aimed at understanding how to reduce Aboriginal health inequities.”
CMAJ clearly reported the facts the minister suggests were omitted.