Chronic Disease Prevention

Active Resolutions:

Resolution	Recent Developments
#A07-9, Cancer Care Ontario Support for Boards of Health alPHa urges Cancer Care Ontario to develop the following: • a clear process whereby boards of health may obtain timely data for areas smaller than the health unit level • mechanisms and/or workshops to train public health epidemiologists on cancer analysis techniques • a forum by which boards of health and CCO can share findings and data quality issues;	April 21 2008 alPHa ED Linda Stewart met with Dr. John McLaughlin, VP, Population Studies and Surveillance with CCO on April 21, 2008 regarding alPHa’s resolution. CCO understands and supports the need for BOHs to get data at a smaller than health unit level, and are committed  to developing a clear process whereby BOHs may obtain timely data. The major barrier is privacy legislation – PHIPA.  CCO has the data, but there are currently privacy issues for geographic areas will less than 5 cases.  Given an MOH is the end user of the data, CCO offered to ask the Privacy Commissioner to do a privacy impact assessment on the provision of data to BOHs. This is in progress. December 12, 2007 alPHa has written to the President and CEO of Cancer Care Ontario to introduce this Resolution. Please click here to read.
#A07-7, Request for Public Funding for Human Papillomavirus Vaccine alPHa requests the Government of Ontario to include HPV vaccine as a publicly funded immunization for females between the ages of nine and 26 years	August 3, 2007 The provincial government has announced a publicly-funded programme for voluntary immunization of grade 8 girls against the human Papillomavirus, a known cause of genital warts and cervical cancer. Please click here for details of the programme. Please click here for alPHa's press release.
A06-3, Health-Based Regulation of the Management and Use of Artificial Tanning Equipment  alPHa urges the Government of Ontario to pass and promote legislation governing the use and management of artificial tanning equipment based on  the World Health Organization report, Artificial Tanning Sunbeds - Risks and Guidance.	July 30, 2009 Following the addition of UV-emitting tanning devices to the International Agency for Cancer Research  list of Group 1 (definite) human carcinogens, alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to remind him of the outstanding alPHa Resolution. Please click here to read. June 12, 2008 Bill 83 has passed second reading and has been referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. May 28, 2008 Khalil Ramal (MPP - London-Fanshawe) has introduced Bill 83, the Skin Cancer Prevention Act, which - if passed - would prohibit the provision of artificial tanning services to persons under the age of 19. The bill may be viewed here October 27, 2006 alPHa has sent a letter to CCO CEO Dr. Terry Sullivan following the release of the Report on Cancer 2020: A Call for Renewed Action on Cancer Prevention and Detection in Ontario, with a request to discuss how alPHa and CCO can work together to achieve its goals and objectives. Each of alPHa’s active cancer-related Resolutions was attached.  Please click here to read October 13, 2006 The Provincial Cancer Prevention and Screening Council's Report on Cancer 2020: A Call for Renewed Action on Cancer Prevention and Detection in Ontario has been released. It is a comprehensive document that sets measurable objectives for many aspects of cancer prevention and control, including research, healthy lifestyles, and early detection.  Among its recommendations, it urges that the provincial government develop legislation to restrict the use of artificial tanning equipment by those under the age of 18. Please click here for the report. September 19, 2006 alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care introducing Resolution A06-3. Please click here to read.
#A03-3, Helicobacter Pylori and Gastric Cancer Prevention  alPHa urges the Canadian Institute of Health Research and Ontario Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation to fund a demonstration project to evaluate the merits of a high-risk H. pylori screening and treatment program.	February 8 2009 alPHa has received an excerpt on stomach cancer from the Canadian Cancer Society's Canadian Cancer Encyclopedia, which includes the following statement:  "To date, there is no screening test recommended for stomach cancer. Because of the low incidence of stomach cancer in Canada, mass screening of the general population using upper gastrointestinal (GI) series (barium swallow) or gastroscopy (endoscopy of the upper GI tract) would not be cost effective."   Please click here for the chapter   October 27, 2006 alPHa has sent a letter to CCO CEO Dr. Terry Sullivan following the release of the Report on Cancer 2020: A Call for Renewed Action on Cancer Prevention and Detection in Ontario, with a request to discuss how alPHa and CCO can work together to achieve its goals and objectives. Each of alPHa’s active cancer-related Resolutions was attached.  Please click here to read March 25, 2004 A telephone meeting was held with Dr. Terry Sullivan and Dr. Verna Mai of Cancer Care Ontario. Dr. Sullivan committed to take a lead on this resolution. He agreed to convene a workshop to determine a potential study design for a prevalence and treatment study. His initial thoughts were to have two health units with high risk populations pilot a prevalence study. This would hopefully be in conjunction with primary care providers and as part of a patient's annual check-up.  Dr. Sullivan will ask alPHa for support and keep the Association informed of any material developments. January 5, 2004 Letter written to Dr. Terry Sullivan, Provincial Vice President of Research and Cancer Control at Cancer Care Ontario, requesting advice on identifying researchers who might apply for CIHR funding to evaluate the effectiveness of h. pylori screening in gastric cancer prevention. Click here to read the letter.  October 20, 2003 Received response from Dr. Jean François St. Denis of CIHR, summarizing the application requirements that precede CIHR funding. What this means is that further advocacy on h. pylori screening should be directed at the research community at large to design the demonstration project and apply to CIHR for the funding to implement it. Click here to read the response. September 8th, 2003 Letters sent by alPHa staff to CIHR President Alan Bernstein and Ontario Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation Jim Flaherty for their consideration of and action on the h. pylori Resolution.
#A02-4, Mandatory Cervical Screening Test Reporting  alPHa urges the Government of Ontario to amend the HPPA and its regulations such that laboratory operators and colposcopists are required to file reports on cervical screening to Cancer Care Ontario.  In addition, the Government must investigate mandatory reporting of other non-communicable diseases.	October 27, 2006 alPHa has sent a letter to CCO CEO Dr. Terry Sullivan following the release of the Report on Cancer 2020: A Call for Renewed Action on Cancer Prevention and Detection in Ontario, with a request to discuss how alPHa and CCO can work together to achieve its goals and objectives. Each of alPHa’s active cancer-related Resolutions was attached.  Please click here to read  May 1, 2006 Cancer Care Ontario's 2006 Cancer System Quality Index has been published, which uses 25 indicators to measure cancer care system performance. The following is an excerpt from the Cervical Cancer Screening section: Data Sources Cytobase is an Ontario Pap test registry that captures data from participating laboratories (MDS, Gamma Dynacare, Canadian Medical Laboratories, Medical Laboratories of Windsor), and about 85% of all Ontario Pap test screening. Statistics Canada, Annual Demographic Statistics 2004 (population statistics) Canadian Community Health Survey (to correct for hysterectomies) May 5, 2005 Letter sent to Minister of Health and Long Term Care re-introducing resolution A02-4, on mandatory cervical screening test results reporting. Please click here to read. February 7, 2003 Received a response from Geoff Kettel at the Public Health Branch indicating that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) is aware of Manitoba's prescribed registry of cervical cancer screening results, and that the MOHLTC will continue to work with Cancer Care Ontario to build on the Ontario Cervical Screening Program. This will include a review of the legislative barriers to information access and the use and disclosure of data.

CLOSED RESOLUTIONS

Resolution	Recent Developments
#A01-11, Colorectal Cancer Screening alPHa urges the Government of Ontario to approve and fund Cancer Care Ontario’s Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot Project so that the project can be implemented and evaluated as soon as possible and by so doing, lay the groundwork for the establishment of a future organized Ontario colorectal cancer screening program.	May 4 2007 The MOHLTC has provided a breakdown of the distribution of $11M among LHINs for 2007-08 colorectal screening programs. April 27 2007 alPHa Board of Directors closes Resolution A01-11 April 24 2007 alPHa Advocacy Committee recommends closure of Resolution January 23 2007 The Ontario Government has announced investments of $193.5 million over the next five years to implement and expand a program to increase access to colorectal cancer screening for Ontarians aged 50 years or older. Please click here to read the government news release October 27, 2006 alPHa has sent a letter to CCO CEO Dr. Terry Sullivan following the release of the Report on Cancer 2020: A Call for Renewed Action on Cancer Prevention and Detection in Ontario, with a request to discuss how alPHa and CCO can work together to achieve its goals and objectives. Each of alPHa’s active cancer-related Resolutions was attached.  Please click here to read October 13, 2006 The Provincial Cancer Prevention and Screening Council's Report on Cancer 2020: A Call for Renewed Action on Cancer Prevention and Detection in Ontario has been released. It is a comprehensive document that sets measurable objectives for many aspects of cancer prevention and control, including research, healthy lifestyles, and early detection.  Among its recommendations, it urges that the MOHLTC fund a provincial population-based colorectal cancer screening program. Please click here for the report. May 1, 2006 Cancer Care Ontario's 2006 Cancer System Quality Index has been published, which uses 25 indicators to measure cancer care system performance. The following is an excerpt from the Colorectal Cancer Screening section:  What is being done? A Cancer Care Ontario panel recommended in 1999 that Ontario introduce an organized FOBT-based colorectal cancer screening program for average risk people aged 50 to 75 years.11 The final report of an Ontario pilot project that compared different methods to promote participation in FOBT screening has been completed and submitted to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. This pilot evaluated several aspects related to the recruitment and participation in a colorectal cancer screening program. The report details recommendations to establish a population-based colorectal cancer screening program that would include: a mass media awareness campaign for primary care providers and Ontarians aged 50-74; mailing invitations and FOBT test kits to the target population; and organized recall, after two years, to those who tested negative. CCO is working with the government and stakeholders on a plan to introduce a colorectal cancer screening program in Ontario.   April 2005 Cancer Care's Colorectal Screening Pilot Project Report is now available. Click here to read.   February 2005 Cancer Care Ontario's pilot project is in the final stages of completion with a report due late spring/early summer. CCO will push forward with an organized screening program given the UK's announcement it will have one starting in 2006. June 19, 2003 Minister of Health and Long Term Care Tony Clement announced a $2.8M investment in the Cancer Care Ontario pilot program for colorectal cancer screening, the first of its kind in Canada. March 3, 2003 Cancer Care Ontario releases its report, PILOT PROJECT COMPARING PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT TO PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT PROGRAM RECRUITMENT FOR COLORECTAL SCREENING BY FECAL OCCULT BLOOD TESTING IN ONTARIO. To view report click here. February 27, 2003 Letter drafted by alPHa to Terry Sullivan at Cancer Care Ontario in support of moving the colorectal cancer screening pilot project forward.  The letter is in response to the Chief MOH's statement to CCO's Verna Mai that he is not aware of public health's support for colorectal cancer screening and the pilot project.  Copies of the resolution, the letter to the Ministry and the reply from the Chief MOH were included to reinforce our members' stated support of this project. To read the letter, please follow this link.
#A01-4, Continuation of Funding to Ensure Sustainable Heart Health Promotion Programming in Ontario	February 1 2007 Resolution closed by alPHa Board of Directors December 11 2006 alPHa Advocacy Committee recommends closure of this Resolution as it resolution asked for extension of the provincial portion of the Ontario Heart Health programs specifically for the period beginning April 1, 2003. In November of 2002, the province committed $17M over five years. Ontario Heart Health community partnerships are singled out as key players in the Ministry of Health Promotion’s Healthy Eating, Active Living action plan. Note – On October 23rd 2006, the federal government announced a national Heart Health strategy, with  investments of $3.2 million this fiscal year, which will increase to $5.2 million annually for future years. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/media/nr-rp/2006/2006_09_e.html November 19, 2002 Province announced funding of $17 million to extend the Ontario Heart Health Program for another 5 years. October 18, 2002 Letter sent to the Chief MOH requesting an update on the funding status of the Program. September 5, 2002 alPHa learned OHHN has not heard from the PHB regarding the former's request to inform health units by September 1 if the province will continue funding for the Ontario Heart Health Program.  OHHN has written the PHB again as have other heart health coalitions and some health units. August 22, 2002 alPHa received a copy of an Ontario Heart Health Network (OHHN) letter to the PHB requesting the Branch inform health units and heart health coalitions by September 1, 2002 if the province will continue funding the Heart Health Program. February 19, 2002 Received response from the Chief MOH on behalf of the Health Minister indicating that the MOHLTC is conducting an independent evaluation of the Ontario Heart Health Program to assess its effectiveness in reaching provincial goals and objectives and to determine the program's future beyond March 31, 2003. Preliminary report and recommendations are due to MOHLTC in March 2002.