Dec. 3, 2009, Toronto – The Health Council of Canada is turning to the leaders of tomorrow – Canadian college and university students – for their ideas on improving the health-care system. The Health Council of Canada Health Innovation Award will be given to the student or students who best answer the question: “What do you propose to help renew and sustain Canadian health care, and why?

Background

The Health Council of Canada, created by the 2003 First Ministers’ Accord on Health Care Renewal is mandated to monitor and report on the progress of health care renewal in Canada. Councilors are appointed by the participating provinces, territories and the Government of Canada. 

“The Health Council of Canada is committed to highlighting innovation in Canadian health care renewal. Who better to ask for their ideas than those who will shape the Canadian health care system in the future?” says John G. Abbott, CEO of the Health Council of Canada and member of the judging panel. 

 “We’re asking teachers and professors to take this discussion into their classrooms, to challenge their students, and to have their students generate well thought out and reasoned ideas. Who knows, the students may come up with something no one has thought of before,” said Abbott.

Contest details and submission guidelines

As part of it’s commitment to highlighting innovation in Canadian health care renewal, the Health Council of Canada is turning to college and university students – working independently, or through their institutions –  for their ideas. 

The Council will be awarding the Health Council of Canada Health Innovation Award to the students with the best response to the following question: 

What do you propose to help renew and sustain Canadian health care, and why? 

Students who study health-related or other courses (such as chiropractic, medicine, nursing, health administration, economics, etc,) are asked to think about our health care system and its future, and to consider what important innovations should be implemented to ensure it is there for all Canadians now and in the future. 

Submissions of up to 1,000 words will be accepted from students or teams of two or more students registered at Canadian colleges or universities. Diagrams, tables or figures can be included to help students make their case. The idea can be either broad or specific, but it must be original. 

Entries will be judged by a Health Council of Canada panel of experts, including the Chair of the Health Council of Canada and its CEO. First and second place will be awarded in each of the individual and team categories, for a total of up to four prizes.

Submissions will be judged on the following criteria:

•  originality
•  evidence-based
• well reasoned
•  well written

The winners of the Health Council of Canada Health Innovation Award will have their submission featured on the CanadaValuesHealth.ca website, on the council’s  home page at www.healthcouncilcanada.ca , and in a Health Council of Canada e-newsletter that goes out to the nation. All will receive a certificate of congratulations. 

The submission deadline is 5 p.m. on December 15, 2009 and submissions are to be sent via e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by mail to: Health Council of Canada, c/o Health Innovation Contest, 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 900, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 2Y3. 

Students who have any questions about the contest or about their submissions are invited to call  1-866-998-1019.

For information on the Health Council of Canada and to view past reports, visit www.healthcouncilcanada.ca