Ottawa Creates New Agency for Faster Response to Future Pandemics

Health Minister Mark Holland responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa, on June 18, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

The federal government has announced the launch of a new organization meant to coordinate different sectors for faster response to future public health emergencies.

The new Health Emergency Readiness Canada (HERC) is meant to serve as the nation’s focal point to coordinate efforts and collaboration between industry, research centres, and international partners.

“By prioritizing our efforts and resources, we are positioning Canada to become a major player in the development of medical countermeasures, ensuring we have the tools necessary to protect Canadians in the face of future health threats, and contributing to global solutions,” Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne said on Sept. 24.

Health Minister Mark Holland said the new organization will allow a “swift response” to health emergencies.

“The new dedicated life sciences organization represents a significant advancement in how we approach health security,” he said on Sept. 24.

The government says by bridging the gap between research and industry, the organization will make it possible to get faster access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other products during health emergencies.

“The new organization will offer an integrated approach across the continuum of discovery, R&D, production and biomanufacturing,” the government said in a statement. “In doing so, it will strengthen national networks and planning capacity to effectively mobilize scientific and industrial capabilities to respond to a health emergency.”

Officials say with this initiative, Canada is following the example of some G7 partners that have created specialized entities to increase health emergency readiness. Examples cited by the government include the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority.

The new agency will work closely with federal partners, including Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, according to the announcement.

The government says more information about the new organization will be forthcoming in the coming months.