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ARCHIVED - Assisted Human Reproduction Canada
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Section II - Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome
2.1 Strategic Outcome
Protection and promotion of the health and safety of Canadians against the risks associated with assisted human reproduction technologies.
The following section describes Assisted Human Reproduction Canada (AHRC)’s program activities and identifies the expected result, performance indicators and targets for each. It also explains how AHRC plans to achieve the expected results, and identifies the financial and non-financial resources that will be dedicated to each program activity:
- Licencing and Enforcement of a Regulatory Framework for Assisted Human Reproduction Technologies
- Health Information and Knowledge Management for Assisted Human Reproduction Technologies
- Internal Services
2.1.1 Program Activity: Licencing and Enforcement of a Regulatory Framework for Assisted Human Reproduction Technologies
| Performance Indicators | Targets |
|---|---|
| As the regulations come into force, develop a documented licencing and inspection framework which is communicated to clinics and stakeholders and which sees inspections carried out on the basis consistent with the framework. |
In advance of the regulations coming into force, and in collaboration with stakeholders, AHRC is concentrating on:
|
| Prior to the regulations coming into force, communicating the framework to the stakeholders by various means including direct contact, presentations at professional forums, literature and electronic means such as a Web site. |
In advance of the regulations coming into force, AHRC is concentrating on:
|
| Financial Resources ($ millions) |
Human Resources (Full-Time Equivalents/FTEs) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
| 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 14 | 14 | 14 | |
Program Activity Summary
The program activity consists of issuing licences for controlled activities and for facilities used by qualified persons or organizations; assessing applications against licence requirements, including scientific and ethical considerations; conducting periodic inspections of AHR clinics, service providers or research to ensure compliance; and enlisting the participation or support of other recognized organizations in the development of other supporting policy instruments—for example, standards, guidelines and accreditation models.
Planning Highlights
In order to achieve the expected result, the Agency is putting in place the systems and processes required to implement the regulations currently under development by Health Canada. This includes:
- Planning for the development of a licencing system to manage effectively the applications expected for licencing of controlled activities and premises in the AHR industry, based on best practices and current models used in the Health Portfolio. A model system is intended to be in place over the next few years.
- Continuing to respond to and refine the methodology for handling concerns brought to the attention of the Agency.
- Developing an inspection strategy to ensure compliance with the AHR Act and regulations.
- Working with national stakeholder organizations to support the development of instruments in support of the planned regulatory framework, including clinical practice guidelines for AHR professions.
- Working with national and international partners to identify and formulate strategies to address issues of common concern, such as the health and safety of cross-border reproductive care and the impact of multiple births.
Benefits for Canadians
Through this program activity, AHRC will help to ensure the health and safety of donors, patients and offspring born of AHR technologies.
2.1.2 Program Activity: Health Information and Knowledge Management for Assisted Human Reproduction Technologies
| Performance Indicators | Targets |
|---|---|
| The successful development of a Personal Health Information Registry that is integrated into an overall surveillance network, once the regulations come into force. |
In advance of the regulations coming into force, AHRC is concentrating on:
|
| # of printed information products distributed for external use # of persons/organizations accessing the Web site (statistics) Results of periodic surveys to gauge utility of products |
The Agency will establish baseline measures related to its information products in the first year, as the basis for setting targets in future years. |
| Financial Resources ($ millions) |
Human Resources (Full-Time Equivalents/FTEs) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
| 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 11 | 11 | 11 | |
Program Activity Summary
The program activity includes maintaining a Personal Health Information Registry to consolidate health reporting information concerning donors, patients and offspring born of assisted human reproduction procedures to allow for a look-back and trace-back mechanism; providing ongoing reports of assisted human reproduction controlled activities, including success rates by assisted human reproduction users to make informed decisions; and providing public information on assisted human reproduction matters or issues via a public Web site or in other forms such as brochures.
Planning Highlights
In order to achieve the expected results, AHRC plans to undertake the following activities:
- Initiating a pilot project in 2009–10, using voluntary information to build the foundation for a Personal Health Information Registry. The Agency will also work on establishing partnerships for the collection and dissemination of the information, as the basis for an eventual health surveillance network.
- Enhancing the Web site to include more information on AHR, and developing complementary links to stakeholder sites to provide more comprehensive access to AHR information.
- Producing information on a regular basis through various print or electronic products (e.g., newsletter, annual report, patient brochures, etc.) to increase access by Canadians to AHR information, and promote greater awareness of the Agency, its mandate and its initiatives.
Benefits for Canadians
The eventual establishment of a Personal Health Information Registry (PHIR) will be useful in monitoring and improving the safety and effectiveness of AHR procedures. The registry will also provide a valuable resource to children born of reproductive technologies to enable them to find out about their medical and genetic information. The PHIR will eventually become a key component of a larger AHR health surveillance system capable of providing information needed to determine health outcomes relating to persons undergoing certain AHR procedures and children born as a result of those procedures. This will allow Canadians to make more informed decisions related to the use of these technologies.
2.1.3 Program Activity: Internal Services
| Financial Resources ($ millions) |
Human Resources (Full-Time Equivalents/FTEs) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
| 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 19 | 19 | 19 | |
Program Activity Summary
Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.
AHRC, as a small, new agency, receives its Internal Services through a combination of Agency-supplied corporate services and services provided through an MOU with Health Canada.
Planning Highlights
AHRC is faced with the challenge of providing quality Internal Services while continuing to build the foundation for a strong and efficient corporate services function. In particular, the Agency intends to complete the establishment of strong policies, processes and service delivery in the areas of finance, procurement, human resources, information management (including Access to Information and Privacy), and information technology. This process includes considering alternative service provision methods, such as contracts or Memoranda of Understanding, where it makes sense to do so. AHRC is constantly reviewing its service performance in Internal Services to ensure quality delivery of service in a cost effective and timely manner.
In the area of human resources, AHRC has integrated its business planning and human resource planning from the start, and will continue to integrate its resourcing strategy in a manner consistent with the evolution of the Agency. As regulations come into force, resourcing plans will be implemented to ensure that AHRC has the resources it needs to fulfil its mandate.
In order to achieve Internal Services objectives, planning highlights include:
- Implementing an integrated management system that covers such areas as human resources, risk management, performance management, and financial management.
- Renegotiating Memoranda of Understanding with service providers to offer a wider range of services to staff.
- Seeking feedback from employees related to their satisfaction with the Agency work environment.
The highlights of the Internal Services program activity can be linked to AHRC’s management priorities, which include Internal Management, Human Resources, and Risk Management.
