In light of this situation, which is becoming more pronounced, the University of Ottawa and the Institut du Savoir Montfort, which share the goal of advancing health-care research, particularly in French, are joining forces to find possible solutions.
“By bringing together the expertise of two leading francophone research institutions in Canada, we hope to create a better synergy for health-care research and the various communities of practice. We can thus find innovative solutions to societal issues,” says Martine Lagacé, associate vice-president, research promotion and development, at the University of Ottawa.
The University and Montfort have created a working group on health care and science in French, which will also be mandated to make recommendations to increase collaboration between the two institutions. By coming together and better co-ordinating French-language health-care research, they hope to improve the access to, and quality of, care offered to francophone minorities.
French-language health-care research
“Health care is a topic that cuts across University faculties. This group, made up of clinicians and researchers, will allow us to have an overview of the issues affecting French-language health-care research, considering language as a major determinant of health,” says Estelle Ethier, Institut du Savoir Montfort CEO.
The joint working group will be made up of members from different 糵 faculties as well as the Institut du Savoir Montfort. The experts will first have to define a shared vision of the scope of and support for French-language health-care research. The group will then attempt to determine strategies to facilitate research collaboration between the institute and the various 糵 faculties.
It will then make recommendations to encourage decision-makers, in particular, the federal government, to implement concrete measures to improve access to health care in French outside Quebec.
The group has set a target of spring of this year to report on its work.
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