Patient and Consumer Participation Pool

This content was archived on June 24, 2013.

• What is the "Pool"?
• Purpose of the Pool
• Advantages of Being a Pool Participant
• Brochure
• Useful links

What is the "Pool"?

The Patient and Consumer Participation Pool (the "Pool"), is a project of Health Canada's Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB). The goal is to build a mechanism which gives HPFB programs easier access to a wider variety of informed patients, consumers and caregivers who are interested in participating in consultation processes related to a range of health products and food.

Pool members will receive training and educational materials to better understand HPFB's role and responsibilities in regulating health products and food. This will help Pool members participate more meaningfully in consultations.

The Pool does not replace open invitations to the broader public to provide views or replace representation from patient and consumer organizations. Nor is the Pool a focus group, public opinion research group, interactive body or advocacy group. Pool members will be speaking individually, representing their own views and interests as patients, caregivers or consumers.

In its first year, Health Canada aims to recruit 50 to 100 members. Depending on the success of this pilot initiative, the number of participants may grow in future years.

Purpose of the Pool

Why is Health Canada establishing the Pool?

Health Canada is creating the Pool as a different way to establish quicker and easier access to the valued advice of Canadians in the consultations we undertake on health products and food.

Health Canada recognizes that Canadians have unique and valued perspectives to bring to the table in Health Canada decision-making. Given the often scientific and regulatory nature of many of the discussions, members of the general public have expressed that they sometimes feel they do not have the necessary knowledge to participate as fully as other stakeholders, such as representatives from industry or professional groups.

At the same time, Health Canada is often challenged to easily find patients or consumers with personal experience and relevant interests. Having the Pool in place will offer another way to quickly find and invite interested patients, caregivers and consumers to consultations on health product and food issues.

Why will Pool participants be consulted only on health product and food issues, and not other areas under Health Canada's jurisdiction?

The Pool is being piloted by Health Canada's Health Products and Food Branch. As such, Pool participants will only be consulted on health product and food issues at this time. Based on the Pool's success, it could be expanded to support consultations on other Health Canada issues and product lines in future.

What if I want to be involved in consultations on issues not related to health products or food?

At any given time there are a number of consultations across Health Canada seeking the input from the general public. You do not to have to be a Pool member to participate in these consultations. To find out about consultations across Health Canada, visit Health Canada's Public Involvement Portal.

Advantages of Being a Pool Participant

There are many benefits to becoming a Pool member:

• Have the opportunity to participate in consultations to help inform Health Canada decision-making with respect to health product and food issues;
• Gain a better understanding of Health Canada, the Health Products and Food Branch and the decision-making and regulatory processes;
• Acquire and improve skills that will help you make the most of opportunities to participate in consultations via online learning and webinars; and
• Stay informed via a regular e-bulletin newsletter.

Brochure

• Patient and Consumer Participation Pool Brochure

Useful links

• About Health Canada
• Legislation and Guidelines
• Branches and Agencies
• Health Products and Food Branch
• Health Products and Food Branch Information Theme Sheets
•  How Canadians Govern Themselves - An Overview