Government Sources: Canada

The federal government is supporting the development of a Canadian Health "Info-structure" to make it easier for consumers to access health information. This initiative has included three federal projects:

1. An electronic national health surveillance network;
2. A health information system tailored to the needs of First Nations;
3. A Canadian Health Network (CHN).

As CHN evolves, Health Canada's role will change. Health Canada has taken a leadership role in establishing CHN but its ultimate success depends on many groups working together to develop, manage and sustain it.

The Canadian Institute For Health Information (CIHI) in Ottawa, Ontario, Web site in English and in French.

There are many options on the CIHI Web site including "Links To Other Sites": Canadian Health Network, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Health Canada, and Statistics Canada.

In addition, selecting "Links To Other Sites" provides connections to the Provincial/Territorial Ministries of Health and related International Organizations.

CIHI's Web site offers Health Indicators, Technical Notes, Brochure With Sample Findings, and reports from the Roadmap Initiative.

• Health Care in Canada 2000: A First Annual Reports is available.
• Health Information Roadmap: Beginning the Journey is also available.
• Health Information Roadmap: Responding to Needs is another CIHI initiative available.

Statistics Canada is a federal government Web site with links to Canadian Statistics, Census, Products and Services. Free tabular information is available under four general headings: the economy, land, people, and state. Specific tabular displays requested include economic conditions, health, population, geography, environment, and families, households and housing.

This Web site also performs searches on specific issues that utilize the databases in Statistics Canada.

Health Canada is another federal government Web site with seven major divisions that are clicked for access: news, health care, public health, health factors, regulated products, health research, and regulation & policy.

Each of the seven divisions within Health Canada's home page is indexed by topic area with links. In addition, the home page for each of the divisions contains a seven-to-ten page description, with links, for that segment of Health Canada. For example, health insurance, health costs, planning and reform, clinical care, community health, etc. are included in the health care segment.