December, 2004
For immediate release

Advisory

Minister of State (Public Health) visit to Israel

Overview

Minister of State (Public Health) Dr. Carolyn Bennett will visit Israel from Jan. 3-7. The Minister will be accompanied by Dr. Sylvie Stachenko, Interim Deputy Chief Public Health Officer for the Public Health Agency of Canada, MP Michael Savage (Dartmouth-Cole Harbour), member of the Standing Committee on Health, MP Anita Neville (Winnipeg South Centre), member of the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Dr. Isra Levy, Director of the Office of Public Health for the Canadian Medical Association.

The Canadian delegation will be meeting with Israeli front-line emergency response leaders and personnel, experts in bioterrorism, hospital administrators, government members and officials, and will be shown test emergency response simulations.

Background

SARS and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 have demonstrated that unexpected disasters and emergencies that threaten the health and even lives of hundreds and thousands of people are more than theoretical possibilities. They are in fact only a plane ride away, or a terrorist action away.

But whether from a naturally occurring phenomenon, or from biological terrorism, the systems, planning, stockpiles, communications protocols, manpower and facilities preparedness needed to effectively respond to a biological outbreak or attack are remarkably similar.

Following on the recommendations of the Naylor Report on SARS, the federal government in September established the Public Health Agency of Canada, under Dr. David Butler-Jones, to build expertise and assume leadership "in collaboration with provincial/territorial and local authorities" in the area of public health, including health and disaster emergency preparedness and response. During this fiscal year, the government has earmarked $41 million to public health readiness capacity - including $5 million for emergency response teams, and $4 million for a national emergency stockpile system - and an additional $17 million to improved laboratory capacity.

In keeping with that mission, Dr. Carolyn Bennett, the Minister of State (Public Health), is leading a high-level delegation of health care officials on a working visit to review disaster and emergency response procedures and preparedness in Israel. Israel was chosen because, due to its unique situation and history, it has established probably the world’s most robust and efficient disaster response system.

While the Canadian delegation is interested in learning about all aspects of Israel’s response and preparedness system - and exploring applications to Canada - of particular interest is the hospital surge capacity requirements expected to be met by all Israeli hospitals. Despite occupancy rates similar to those of Canadian hospitals, Israeli hospitals are required to accommodate an admittance surge capacity of 20 per cent of total bed capacity in the event of an emergency.

The Canadian delegation believes the visit will be extremely valuable to current efforts in Canada to improve its emergency and disaster management plans and infrastructure so as to meet the threats of the 21st century. It will also be the first opportunity to share information and experiences in the field of public health between the two countries since the establishment of PHAC.

For more information contact:

Tricia Geddes
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of State (Public Health)
(613) 941- 8081
cell (613) 299-6940

Julian Beltrame
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 954-8528
cell (613) 266-3452