Foreword by the Chair

Preventive health care is a cornerstone of a strong and equitable health care system — one that not only treats illness, but actively works to prevent it. Throughout my career in public health, research, and evidence-based policymaking, I have seen firsthand how preventive measures can improve health outcomes, reduce disparities, and strengthen health care systems. Enhancing our preventive health care framework is one of the most impactful ways we can enhance the well-being of all Canadians.

The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (CTFPHC) has long been a trusted voice in evidence-based guideline development and is internationally recognized for its work. As the health care landscape continues to evolve, so too must the structures and processes that guide it. The External Expert Review Panel, composed of thirteen experts from diverse fields, approached this work with a shared commitment to ensuring that the Task Force remains a leader in preventive health care — responsive to the needs of primary health care professionals and the public, as well as the provincial and territorial screening program managers, quality councils, and other key interest holders who support professionals and the public in the delivery of primary care and clinical preventive services.

Throughout this process, we listened to family physicians, medical specialists, other health care professionals and members of the public. In addition, we gathered perspectives from academic institutions, health professional associations, non-governmental organizations, provincial and territorial health authorities, and others. Their insights painted a clear picture: while the Task Force is widely respected for its scientific rigour, there is a pressing need to modernize its approach to be more inclusive, transparent, and responsive to the diverse realities of health care delivery across Canada. In particular, many emphasized the importance of ensuring that guidance is contextualizable — adaptable to different provincial and territorial systems, provider roles, and population needs — so that evidence-based recommendations can be meaningfully implemented where they matter most. In order to achieve everything that is expected of it, it needs to be adequately resourced and supported. Preventive health care is not static, and neither should be the structures that support it.

This report presents findings and recommendations that will not only bolster the Task Force's credibility but also enhance its ability to serve the evolving needs of primary care professionals and people living across Canada. By broadening the evidence base, embedding contextual flexibility into its methods, adopting more systematic, equity-centred engagement, and by strengthening governance, we can ensure that preventive health care guidelines remain both scientifically rigorous and practically relevant.

The recommendations in this report are not only about modernizing the approach but about ensuring that preventive health care remains responsive to evolving scientific evidence, inclusive of diverse perspectives, adaptable to real-world delivery settings and to local public health priorities.

At a time when misinformation and disinformation challenge public trust in health care, the role of independent, evidence-based bodies such as the Task Force has never been more vital. As this report was being prepared, the work of the Task Force was temporarily paused. It is essential that it be enabled and supported continuing its critical contributions to preventive health care in Canada.

I want to thank my fellow Panel members for bringing their knowledge, expertise and diversity of views to our meetings where openness and respect were not only evident but also felt. Their collaboration and dedication have been essential to fulfilling our mandate. I am also grateful to the many national and international experts and interest holders who contributed their time and expertise to this review, as well as the organizations that provided valuable insights and perspectives. They all helped to shape the recommendations outlined in this report.

This report is not the end of the conversation — it is the beginning of an important transformation. In the final section of this report, we make broader observations about the need for reform of the pan-Canadian approach to guideline development. I urge policymakers, health care leaders, and the public to embrace these ideas and work together in a coordinated approach to build a stronger, context-sensitive, and responsive approach to preventive health services and guideline development in Canada.

Vivek Goel,

C.M., O.Ont.Chair,

External Expert Review

PanelMarch 2025