Approximately one in five Canadians live with chronic pain and this can have significant impacts on an individual’s physical and mental health, often preventing them from undertaking everyday activities. People with chronic pain face challenges related to stigma and access to evidence-based health services to treat and manage their pain. Injured workers are even more vulnerable given the issues related to the workers’ compensation systems, benefits, and employment.
Health Canada has established the Canadian Pain Task Force in order to provide advice to Health Canada regarding evidence and best practices for the prevention and management of chronic pain.
The Task Force is gathering information in order to identify best and leading practices, potential areas for improvement, and elements of an improved approach to understand, prevent, and manage pain in Canada.
Through online consultation, the Task Force is seeking the public’s help to identify ways to improve how pain is addressed in Canada. Your input as an injured worker, a family member, a medical professional, or a concerned citizen is vital to this process.
You can participate in the consultation at the following link: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/programs/consultation-understand-prevent-manage-pain
The online consultation will be available from February 27, 2020 to April 17, 2020.
The consultation invites all Canadians to share their ideas and experiences including:
- People personally impacted by pain
- Family members and friends of people living with pain
- Health care professionals, service providers, support workers and caregivers
- Civil society and community groups working in areas related to pain, or social determinants of pain
- Pain researchers and academics
- Private industry and insurers
Please share the link to the online consultation with others. Include family, friends, colleagues and anyone else you may know who would like to help improve the lives of Canadians impacted by pain.
It will take approximately 15 to 30 minutes to complete the consultation ‘questionnaire’, depending on how much input you would like to provide. You may also use the ‘share your experience’ tool to share your experience and comments with all viewers. You can save your work at any point by registering to the Letstalkhealth platform and submit your response at any time before the closing date.
Your input will shape the Task Force’s report to Health Canada.
For more information about the Canadian Pain Task Force and their mandate, please visit their website at the following link: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/about-health-canada/public-engagement/external-advisory-bodies/canadian-pain-task-force.html