The Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan (CHHS-AP)


The Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan (CHHS-AP) was released in Ottawa on February 24, 2009. It presents a comprehensive and integrated strategy to reduce the growing burden and loss due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CV disease) in Canada. Find out more here. The strategy proposes a six-point plan to reduce risk factors, lower health care costs, and ensure Canadians live longer and healthier lives:

Chart

The development of the Strategy was led by an expert Steering Committee composed of 29 thought-leaders and health experts from across the country. They are calling on the federal government to provide funding for the Strategy as the basis for an investment in Canada's heart health. It's time to act!

  1. Create heart healthy environments through education, legislation, regulation and policy.
  2. Help Canadians lead healthier lives by developing common messages about risk factors, providing self help tools and by bringing screening and follow-up to community settings.
  3. End the heart health crisis among Aboriginal/indigenous peoples by actively involving them in developing their own solutions and plans and providing culturally-appropriate support.
  4. Continue the reform of health services by fostering innovation to support chronic disease prevention and management programs embedded in primary care teams interfacing with regional integrated networks of specialized patient-centred cardiac care.
  5. Build the knowledge infrastructure to enhance prevention and care by ensuring we have more accurate, timely information and efficiently share it. Support focused knowledge development.
  6. Developing the right service providers with the right education and skills by systematically planning our workforce and spurring innovation.