British Columbia Region: Your health and safety... our priority

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Everyone, Everyday

Your health and safety is the priority of more than 400 Health Canada employees in the British Columbia Region. The work of Health Canada impacts each and every British Columbian.

First Nations and Inuit Health (FNIH)

Health Canada is working with First Nations people to improve their health. Together with First Nations' organizations and communities, First Nations and Inuit Health carries out many activities aimed at helping people keep healthy, and prevent chronic and contagious diseases.

Approximately 120,000 Status Indians (or First Nations people) live in BC. This represents close to one-sixth of all Status Indians in Canada. Futhermore, roughly one-third of all First Nations communities are located in British Columbia. FNIH plays a critical role as a service provider and a partner.

Through a variety of funding arrangements, BC First Nations are assuming an increasing role in managing health services in their communities. FNIH provides a range of programs and services for First Nations people, including: drug, dental, vision, patient transportation, addictions treatment, nursing and environmental health.

The region works with First Nations to develop innovative approaches to health facility design by incorporating aboriginal motifs, environmental compatibility, and sustainability. There are more than 120 health centres on-reserve in the region.

First Nations, Health Canada and the BC government work closely together to ensure that on-reserve First Nations have the same access to quality health care as other British Columbians.

Health Products and Food (HPF)

HPF Western Region serves BC, Alberta, Yukon and NWT. It protects and improves the wellbeing of Canadians by minimizing health risk factors while ensuring the safety needed by the regulatory system for health products and food. HPF informs Canadians about conditions and information that enables them to make healthy well-informed choices.

• inspects human and veterinary drugs and natural health products, medical devices, blood, tissues, organs and biologics
• inspects clinical trials of health products and investigates industry and consumer complaints on drugs, natural health products, medical devices and other health products
• receives reports and follows up on adverse reactions to drugs and health products and makes that information available to consumers
• conducts laboratory surveillance and research on food and agricultural products to support the development of science-based standards for food safety and nutrition
• involves stakeholders and the public in the development of policy on nutrition as well as the regulation of health products and foods
• works closely with partners such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Canada Border Services Agency, and provincial government agencies to provide integrated protection and information

Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety (HECS)

HECS is a science-based directorate that focuses on health protection and promotion activities. In BC, the directorate has approximately 80 employees, including chemists, doctors, nurses and environmental health specialists. Regionally, HECS works in five areas:

1. Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Programme
   
   
   • provides leadership on Canada's Drug Strategy, the federal government's response in addressing the harmful use of substances such as alcohol, prescription and illegal drugs
   • funds community-based projects targeting prevention
   • provides expert advice and forensic analytical services to law enforcement agencies
   • provides leadership on Canada's Drug Strategy, the federal government's response in addressing the harmful use of substances such as alcohol, prescription and illegal drugs funds community-based projects targeting prevention
   • provides expert advice and forensic analytical services to law enforcement agencies
2. Tobacco Control Programme
   
   Regulates tobacco products and implements initiatives to reduce and prevent the harm associated with tobacco use, such as enforcing the prevention of sales to minors.
3. Safe Environments Programme
   
   identifies and assesses health risks to Canadians posed by environmental factors, such as the health impacts of air pollution, contaminated sites and major development projects
4. Product Safety Programme
   
   
   • researches, assesses, and collaborates with stakeholders to manage health risks and safety hazards associated with consumer products
   • regulates consumer products and cosmetics to protect consumers from product-related hazards and promotes the safe use of these products
5. Workplace Health and Public Safety Programme
   • delivers occupational health and safety services to federal departments and agencies
   • protects the health and safety of the travelling public, in collaboration with the travel industry, by providing expert advice, conducting inspections and investigating disease outbreaks
6. Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)

   PMRA's primary function is the enforcement and promotion of compliance with the federal Pest Control Products Act. They work closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and undertake inspections and investigations throughout the province related to the sale, use, import and manufacture of pesticides.

The Vancouver Agreement

Health Canada is a federal partner along with the Public Health Agency of Canada in the Vancouver Agreement, an urban initiative involving the governments of Canada and British Columbia, and the City of Vancouver. Signed in March 2000, the agreement commits the partners to work on a strategy to support sustainable social and economic development.

Did you know?

Health Canada in BC works for you by...

• providing funding for programs that encourage reductions in the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs
• working with First Nations communities in health care delivery
• monitoring the safety of the blood supply through regular inspections
• funding educational programs on everything from prenatal and early childhood care to health information for seniors
• providing drug analysis used in criminal court cases
• conducting cruise ship and passenger rail inspections to reduce disease outbreaks
• working with partners and stakeholders to ensure that natural health products, drugs and pesticides meet safety standards ...and much more.

A variety of publications are available through our website, or call our general info line at (604) 666-2083.