Policy Roadmaps for Acting Early on NCDs in Canada

This report is a technical document that presents Canada's contribution to the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR) Policy Roadmaps for Acting Early on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). It serves as the first in a series of reports covering eight countries and discusses the adaptation of health systems designed for episodic, acute care to better address chronic diseases. The report emphasizes the need for fundamental reform in health systems globally, advocating for a shift from reactive to preventive care and from fragmented to integrated systems. It assesses the current performance of Canada's health system in managing NCDs and outlines evidence-based pathways for improvement. The report highlights the roles of federal, provincial, and territorial governments in NCD prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment, noting the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the importance of addressing social determinants of health. It also identifies key disease groups that account for a significant portion of premature deaths from NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, renal and metabolic diseases, cancers, and chronic respiratory diseases.