Type of Intervention: New Tool / Service / Body, Other Announcement
Sectors Involved: Health, Research and Development
Intervention Categories: Legal and policy; New initiatives
Level of Jurisdiction: Ontario
Lead People/Agency: Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health; Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board
Overview: The Ontario government has appointed Dr. Jane Philpott as the special advisor to support the design and implementation of the Ontario Health Data Platform, which was formerly known as PANTHR. The platform is new, and will provide researchers and health system partners with access to anonymized health data that will help detect, plan, and respond to COVID-19. Dr. Philpott will also chair the Joint Ministers’ Roundtable, which will provide recommendations to the Minister of Health and President of the Treasury Board. The Roundtable includes public health, privacy, clinical, and research experts to provide leadership in response to COVID-19 and inform the development of the Ontario Health Data platform.
Full details here: https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2020/06/ontario-appoints-special-advisor-to-develop-health-data-platform.html
Type of Justification: No justification given
Evidence/Justification: There is no justification given for Dr. Philpott’s appointment to this position. However, the government justifies the creation of the new Ontario Health Data platform as a means to gather information that will allow researchers and clinical decision-makers to support health system planning, responsiveness, and analysis of the COVID-19 outbreak.