HDRN Canada and CIHI formalize partnership to strengthen Canada’s health data ecosystem
Health Data Research Network Canada (HDRN Canada) and the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalizing their commitment to work together to strengthen Canada’s health data ecosystem.
The two organizations share a common goal: enabling the responsible use of health and health-related data to generate knowledge that can improve health policy, health care and health outcomes. The agreement recognizes the complementary roles of HDRN Canada and its member organizations, along with CIHI, in building a more connected Canadian health data ecosystem.
This agreement signals our ongoing commitment to bring our respective strengths together to make health data more accessible, connected and equitable, while maintaining the strong stewardship, security and public trust that must underpin its use. ~ Dr. Kim McGrail
“Canada has tremendous health data resources, but realizing their full potential requires collaboration across organizations, provinces and territories,” said Dr. Kim McGrail, CEO and Scientific Director of HDRN Canada. “This agreement signals our ongoing commitment to bring our respective strengths together to make health data more accessible, connected and equitable, while maintaining the strong stewardship, security and public trust that must underpin its use.”
Under the MOU, HDRN Canada and CIHI will initially collaborate in four areas.
- Aligning their roles and responsibilities within the health data ecosystem, helping stakeholders better understand how CIHI, HDRN Canada and provincial and territorial data centres work together.
- Improving data access for researchers and health system decision-makers. This includes advancing data harmonization, facilitating data linkages and exploring innovations such as federated analysis to support a more connected health and life sciences data ecosystem.
- Working together to advance health data stewardship in Canada, including national collaboration on governance and the development of publicly available tools to support implementation of CIHI’s Health Data Stewardship Framework.
- Supporting innovation in Canadian health care including facilitating responsible data use by Canadian innovators, improving the AI-readiness of Canadian health data and involving the public to ensure innovation aligns with public expectations and social licence.
“Health data is one of Canada’s great natural resources that can create tremendous public benefit. Canada must responsibly use this Canadian resource for the benefit of Canadians,” said Dr. Anderson Chuck, President and CEO of CIHI. “By bringing together CIHI’s pan-Canadian perspective and trusted relationships with HDRN Canada’s network of data centres and expertise in federated research and analysis, we can help create a more connected, trusted and effective health data system that will lead to Canadian innovation that results in better care,, the resiliency of health systems, and improvement in the everyday lives of Canadians.”
The two-year agreement recognizes the complementary roles of HDRN Canada and CIHI, maintaining the independence of both organizations while identifying opportunities to align activities to achieve greater impact. Together, HDRN Canada and CIHI aim to help advance a Canadian health data ecosystem that is more connected, efficient and innovative—while keeping responsible stewardship, transparency and public trust at its centre.