From Fragmentation to Alignment: Turning Canada’s Health Data into Action
By: Dr. Anderson Chuck, President and CEO, Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)
Canada has some of the richest health data in the world, yet too much of it remains fragmented, limiting its ability to drive coordinated action and system-wide improvements.
Canada is at a turning point, not only in how data is managed, connected and accessed, but also in how it is trusted and shared. Meeting this moment requires a fundamental shift in how we think about health data – not simply as information collected within individual systems, but as a national asset that can improve health outcomes, strengthen health systems, and position Canada as a global leader in data-enabled health care, research, and innovation.
Significant investments in digital health infrastructure have created a strong foundation. Provinces, territories, and organizations across the country are developing tailored approaches that address local needs, generating valuable insights and solutions to real system challenges. But too often, these efforts remain disconnected limiting opportunities for broader coordination and impact.
The next phase is not about building more, it is about execution: connecting what already exists and reducing the barriers that still prevent data from flowing. Emerging policy direction, including Bill S-5 — The Connected Care for Canadians Act reflects a growing momentum toward reducing barriers to data sharing and aligning standards, governance, and implementation across jurisdictions. If we are serious about improving health outcomes and system sustainability, we need to start treating health data for what it truly is: essential national resource infrastructure.
Like roads or energy infrastructure, health data must move seamlessly and securely to where it is needed the most. It should follow patients across care settings, support clinicians with timely and actionable information, and provide decision-makers with standardized, comparable data that enables benchmarking across jurisdictions, system planning and coordinated national action on shared health challenges.
When connected and used responsibly, this data becomes a powerful catalyst for better care and decision making. Achieving this requires interoperable systems that enable secure and consistent data sharing across settings, providers, technologies and jurisdictions.
Unlocking the full potential of health data will improve care for patients, enable more efficient use of resources, support stronger data informed decision-making, and a stronger foundation for research, global life sciences and innovation, including the responsible adoption of AI – where success depends on high-quality, interoperable data, and trusted governance.
We look forward to seeing you at e-Health. It’s a great programme line up. Visit CIHI at Booth #5 to learn more about how we are advancing connected and comparable health data across Canada, connect with our team, and discover where our subject matter experts will be presenting throughout the event.
Explore the full e-Health26 program for more details.
