Advocacy
The Voice of Academic Medicine in Canada
AFMC offers insight, data and guidance on issues related to medical education, the health workforce, health research, social accountability, planetary health, and more.
Policymakers who involve AFMC in their work gain access to deep expertise across all 18 medical schools in the country, 40 content-specific Committees and Networks, and a variety of industry and international partners.
Current Areas of Focus
AFMC strives to influence positive change that will:
- Address the health workforce shortage
- Increase support for health research, driving innovation and economic prosperity
- Ensure doctors are ready for climate-related challenges.
These areas of focus are closely interconnected, each reinforcing the others to build a sustainable healthcare system.
Health Human Resources
A strong and sustainable healthcare workforce is essential for meeting Canada’s growing health demands and ensuring quality care for all Canadians.
Currently, Canada faces a critical shortage in medical education and training opportunities, which could impede our ability to meet healthcare needs. For every additional healthcare professional trained, there is a direct benefit to the healthcare system and the economy. Yet, Canada continues to fall short in expanding medical school spots, residency positions, and clinical teaching opportunities compared to other nations.
At the same time, healthcare professionals are grappling with challenging working conditions and burnout, putting further strain on the system. Canada’s healthcare workforce is at risk, and immediate action is needed to support and sustain it.
AFMC encourages decision-makers to:
- Recognize the importance of a well-trained healthcare workforce in meeting the evolving health needs of Canadians and supporting economic growth.
- Expand medical education and residency programs to ensure a steady pipeline of skilled healthcare professionals, addressing gaps in training and access.
- Improve working conditions for healthcare workers, focusing on policies that address burnout, protect workers’ rights, and promote a healthy work-life balance.
- Foster a collaborative and supportive training environment that encourages innovation, professional development, and long-term career satisfaction.
Health Research
Health research plays an essential role in improving population health, driving innovation and economic prosperity, and keeping top talent in the country.
For every $1 the government spends on research, $4.71 is generated back into the Canadian economy. But Canada’s investment in health research lags behind other similar nations. Canada only allocates 1.5% of total public health spending to health research, while Australia allocates 3.3% and the U.S. allocates 5.9%. Decision-makers are missing an important economic opportunity.
Meanwhile, Canadians are missing out on important opportunities for homegrown science and innovation, while young scientist-doctors are leaving the country to pursue research and excellence abroad.
AFMC encourages decision-makers to:
- Acknowledge the critical link between health research, public health outcomes, and fostering economic growth
- Foster partnerships among key stakeholders to build a collaborative health research environment
- Invest sustainability in initiatives that enhance Canada’s health research capabilities, including state-of-the-art health research infrastructure
- Create opportunities for emerging researchers and young scientist-doctors to pursue innovation and excellence in Canada, for the benefit of all Canadians
Planetary Health
As the global climate and our local natural environments change around us, so too must healthcare evolve to meet the needs of the Canadian population.
Events such as the intense heat dome of 2021, which claimed more than 600 lives, and the expanding reach of tick-borne Lyme Disease, underscore the growing health risks tied to environmental shifts. The economic impact of smoke-related health issues, which reached over $1.28 billion in Ontario alone over just five days, and the evacuation of 100-bed hospitals in Fort McMurray and Yellowknife due to wildfires, further illustrate the increasing strain on healthcare systems.
Future health professionals must be trained to respond to environmental crises and illnesses, while capital infrastructure and care methodologies must adopt more low-carbon, sustainable practices to reduce waste and carbon impacts.
AFMC encourages decision-makers to:
- Integrate planetary health education in all undergraduate and postgraduate medical programs, ensuring future health professionals receive training on the mitigation and treatment of health issues arising from climate change
- Create dedicated funding streams for planetary health research, with grants specifically focused on developing mitigation strategies for climate-related health challenges
- Invest in the development of climate-resilient, low-carbon, and sustainable health systems.
AFMC is a proud member and partner of HEAL (Organizations for Health Action), one of 40 leading health organizations dedicated to enhancing the health of Canadians and advocating for fair, equitable, and effective health systems.
