Brain Canada Submits Brief on Bill C-277 to Government

Submission to Commons Health Committee urges action to move research into practice, and improve prevention, treatment and recovery from traumatic brain injury, a leading cause of disability in Canada  

Canada urgently needs a national strategy

Canada urgently needs a national strategy to improve care for the estimated 165,000 people who experience traumatic brain injury every year.  

Brain Canada argues for one critical addition to Bill C-277 that would evaluate and revise the way funding is allocated for outpatient rehabilitation services, in a brief submitted to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health.

Traumatic brain injury — often the result of motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, combat injuries, falls, and physical abuse – occurs at all ages, and is a hidden epidemic in Canada with an enormous and sustained impact on individuals, families and society. An estimated 1.5 million Canadians are living with the condition and this number continues to rise.

“Canadians require a national strategy for brain injury to support the implementation of research evidence into practice and improve provincial and territorial decision-making about resource allocation for outpatient services,” writes President & CEO Dr. Viviane Poupon in Brain Canada’s submission on Bill C-277, a private member’s bill sponsored by NDP MP Alistair MacGregor (BC). After passing second reading in the House of Commons in June, the bill was referred to the Health Committee for further review.

Most Canadians who experience traumatic brain injury (TBI) are unable to receive timely access to specialized care, assessments, diagnostics, and rehabilitation, and often miss the critical recovery window. Many people don’t have adequate private insurance coverage and experience depression, anxiety, memory impairments, and other symptoms which can become more difficult to treat when services are inaccessible, leaving them unable to return to their pre-injury lives and careers. TBI is also linked to increased rates of homelessness, incarceration, addiction and suicide.

Stakeholder consultation

Brain Canada identified 55 unique needs related to TBI in Canada through an extensive stakeholder consultation process, described in its submission. While Brain Canada’s role is to identify and support research and knowledge mobilization to generate practical solutions, a national strategy is necessary to ensure services are in place across the country.

“We can generate the best evidence-based solutions but without the government’s investment in services, how can these solutions get implemented?” Dr. Anneliese Poetz

A national strategy must address gaps that include inadequate funding for services leading to reduced access to rehabilitation services, long waiting lists for assessment and care, barriers for individuals to obtain timely financial support, lack of reliable data to inform decision-making, and more.

“Brain Canada’s role is to accelerate and fund research and knowledge mobilization, provide researchers with the resources to address gaps and build solutions.” Dr. Viviane Poupon

Read the Brain Canada submission here

The Innovation Grants for Research Impact in Traumatic Brain Injury program has been made possible by the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada), Brain Canada, and Brain Changes Initiative (BCI).