Evidence of meeting #113 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was disease.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Dr. Money.
Thank you, Ms. Larouche.
The last word goes to Ms. Kwan, please, for two and a half minutes.
1:40 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I just want to follow up quickly on my last question.
It's good to hear that there is perhaps more research and potentially emerging research coming forward. In the meantime, what should women do? Often it's just sort of overlooked, and it's hard for women to tell their physician to look into the issue, so what can they do? What can they do practically at this point?
1:45 p.m.
Professor and Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, As an Individual
I think there are two sides to it. One is that women need to be empowered with the understanding of what this condition is and how it can manifest, and then they can self-advocate.
The side I sit on is as an educator for women's health for obstetricians and gynecologists, primary care providers and so on. We have spoken about this a great deal. We need to increase the general understanding by practitioners of how this manifests and ensure that these women are taken seriously when they present with symptoms that may be a little bit non-specific but can sometimes be very devastating.
We need to increase the number of practitioners in OB/GYN who can do the current surgical diagnostic procedures that are needed until we get research into non-invasive options.
1:45 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
I note in the MS Canada presentation the need for research and the call for a $15-million investment in research. Of the different recommendations that you want to make to the Canadian government, would this be your number one request by way of research investment?
1:45 p.m.
President and CEO, MS Canada
What we do know is that less than 6% from the major MS research organizations around the globe—both governmental and not-for-profit organizations like mine—is spent on prevention. I think this is an unprecedented opportunity to prevent a debilitating neurological disease, which largely affects women, in the next generation, and probably in 10 years.
I think about where we've gone in the last 15 years; we have gone from three to 20 disease-modifying therapies that have produced the kinds of health outcomes that have reduced mortality by 30% and offset disability by 10-plus years. To be able to make those investments today is going to change the face of MS 10 years from now. There isn't another neurological disease, I don't think, in which you could make that claim with the evidence that's available to us today.
We're certainly asking the federal government to come in on that as a partner with a lot of concerned citizens who are going to give us money to partner on that. That's one of the specific requests that we've been making.
1:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Ms. Kwan.
Thank you, Dr. Valentine, for allowing us to finish on such an optimistic note.
This concludes the time that we have, and it also concludes the testimony that we intend to receive on this particular study. Next week, we'll be giving drafting instructions to the analysts.
Thank you for sticking with us and putting in the extra time. It will be of significant value to us. We appreciate your patience and professionalism.
Is it the will of the committee to adjourn the meeting?
1:45 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.