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. 2018 Aug;109(4):585-589.
doi: 10.17269/s41997-018-0080-3. Epub 2018 Jun 12.

Contested roles of Canada's Chief Medical Officers of Health

Patrick Fafard  1   2 , Brittany McNena  3 , Agatha Suszek  3 , Steven J Hoffman  3   4   5   6
Affiliations

Contested roles of Canada's Chief Medical Officers of Health

Patrick Fafard et al. Can J Public Health. 2018 Aug.

Abstract
in English, French

The roles and responsibilities of Canada's Chief Medical Officers of Health (CMOHs) are contested. On the one hand, they are senior public servants who confidentially advise government on public health matters and manage the implementation of government priorities. On the other hand, CMOHs are perceived as independent communicators and advocates for public health. This article analyzes public health legislation across Canada that governs the CMOH role. Our legal analysis reveals that the presence and degree of advisory, communication, and management roles for the CMOH vary considerably across the country. In many jurisdictions, the power and authority of the CMOH is not clearly defined in legislation. This creates great potential for confusion and conflict, particularly with respect to CMOHs' authority to act as public health advocates. We call on governments to clarify their preferences when it comes to the CMOH role and either amend the relevant statute or otherwise find ways to clarify the mandate of their CMOHs.

Les rôles et les responsabilités des médecins-hygiénistes en chef (MHEC) sont souvent remis en question. D’une part, ils sont des hauts fonctionnaires qui offrent des conseils de manière confidentielle à leurs gouvernements en matière de la santé publique et ils gèrent la mise en œuvre des priorités gouvernementales. D’une autre part, les MHEC sont perçus comme des défenseurs de la santé publique capable de communiquer de façon indépendante. Cet article fait une analyse du cadre législatif à travers le Canada qui gouverne le rôle du MHEC. Note analyse juridique démontre que les pouvoirs et l’autorité du MHEC ne sont pas clairement définis dans les statuts et règlements de plusieurs provinces. Ceci crée une forte possibilité pour la confusion et le conflit, surtout en ce qui concerne l’autorité du MHEC d’agir comme défenseur de la santé publique. Nous invitons les gouvernements provinciaux à indiquer leurs préférences en ce qui concerne le rôle de leurs MHEC et les incitons à modifier les lois pertinents où à trouver d’autres moyens de clarifier le mandat de leurs MHEC.

Keywords: Administrateur en chef de la santé publique; Chief Medical Officer of Health; Chief Public Health Officer; Gouvernance de la santé publique; Medical Officer of Health; Mots-clés; Médecin-hygiéniste; Médecin-hygiéniste en chef; Public health; Public health governance; Santé publique.

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Conflict of interest statement

SJH is Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Population & Public Health.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Five models of CMOHs
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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