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Beyond the Naylor Gap: Public Health and productivity



Summary

Economic productivity is affected by both the corporate ‘bottom line’, and by the well-being of individuals and communities. A recent Canadian study points out that both Canadian CEOs and employees recognize an ‘overarching workforce productivity gap’, and attribute that gap to the relationship between workforce health and bottom-line efficiency.

By preventing illness, injury and disease and through government investment in communities, productivity is increased as the direct and indirect costs of health care are reduced. The economy is more resilient, better able to plan for the future, and to respond to unforeseen events, such as the catastrophic losses experienced by the United States in recent months. The sustainability of the publicly funded health care system is strengthened as investments in prevention divert pressures from health care over the longer term. Investments to strengthen the public health system bring both economic and health benefits.


Recommendations

  • The federal government call on the provincial/territorial governments to ear-mark a portion of the increased resources provided in the 10-year plan for public health activities, and for greater transparency in health spending.
  • The federal government should increase to $1.1 billion per year its core funding for federal public health functions, including the ongoing operation of the Public Health Agency of Canada, public health partnerships, the prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and the promotion of the health of all Canadians.
  • The federal government should allocate sufficient funds, through the Public Health Agency of Canada, to enable Human Resources and Skills Development Canada to conduct a multidisciplinary sectoral study of Canada's public health workforce and the development of a long-term strategy for its renewal and sustainability.
  • The federal government should make a long-term funding commitment to a national immunization program including $100 million annually to initiate and sustain immunization programs and $10 million annually to support the National Immunization Strategy.
  • That the Public Health Agency of Canada update the Economic Burden of Illness report every three years and formally incorporate this concept into its sustainable development strategy with respect to the balancing of surveillance, prevention, programming and research.
  • The federal government should request the Health Council of Canada to include the performance of the public health system in its reporting to Canadians.