ARCHIVED - Assisted Human Reproduction Canada

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Section II: Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

Analysis by Program Activity

Strategic Outcome

Protection and promotion of the health and safety of Canadians against the risks associated with assisted human reproduction

Program Activity: Licensing and Enforcement of a Regulatory Framework for AHR technologies.

Financial Resources ($ thousands)

Planned Spending	Authorities	Actual Spending
$4,320	$4,320	$60

Human Resources

Planned	Actual	Difference
22 FTEs	0 FTEs	22 FTEs

Objective

To ensure compliance with the AHR legislative and regulatory framework.

Description

AHRC would achieve this objective by the following means:

• issuing licenses for controlled activities and for facilities used by qualified persons or organizations;
• assessing applications against license requirements, including scientific and ethical considerations
• conducting periodic inspections of AHR clinics, service providers or research to ensure compliance; and
• enlisting the participation or support of other recognized organizations in the development of other supporting policy instruments (e.g., standards, guidelines, accreditation models, etc.).

Expected Result

The preliminary key results for this program activity include:

• an effective and efficient licensing and inspection regime;
• compliance by medical practitioners and researchers in respect of prohibitions and controlled activities; and
• improved safety and success of the controlled activities undertaken.

The Agency sought to make progress towards this priority by concentrating its efforts on the following:

• contracting the services of expert consultants in key functional areas while initiating recruitment actions for permanent AHRC staff
• initiating discussions on key MOUs, including with the HC Inspectorate
• initiating planning for a protocol for processing complaints
• liaising with key stakeholders
• initiating a review of international "best-practices"
• completing relevant technical briefings and related orientation activities

While initiating recruitment for its permanent staff, AHRC has contracted the services of expert consultants to deliver essential support and capacity development services in key functional areas. AHRC also completed or identified priority MOUs necessary to enable the Agency to fulfill its mandate, including initiating discussion on an MOU with the Health Canada Inspectorate to enable them to complete their stakeholder outreach and information gathering relevant to the development of Agency surveillance, compliance and licensing regimes. Meetings were also convened with key system stakeholders to review discuss similar issues. Work also began on a protocol for processing incoming complaints was developed to mitigate potential liability risk to the Agency and Crown. Finally, a review was initiated of international best-practices in relation to Board and Agency advisory committees and structures.

Program Activity: Health Information and Knowledge Management for Assisted Human Reproduction Technologies.

Financial Resources ($ thousands)

Planned Spending	Authorities	Actual Spending
$5,361	$5,361	$74

Human Resources

Planned	Actual	Difference
22 FTEs	1 FTEs	21 FTEs

Program activity description and its expected results

Objective

To become a centre of expertise and focal point of AHR information for policymakers, practitioners, patients, children born of AHR procedures, researchers and the Canadian public.

Description

AHRC would achieve this objective by the following means:

• maintaining a personal health information registry (PHIR) to consolidate health reporting information concerning donors, patients and children born of AHR procedures to allow for a look-back and trace-back mechanism;
• providing ongoing reports of AHR controlled activities, including success rates by AHR clinics and results of research, to enable prospective AHR users to make informed decisions; and
• providing public information on AHR matters or issues via a public website or in other forms such as brochures.

Key Results

The preliminary key results for this program activity include:

• a confidential and secure PHIR;
• improved information for decision-making by practitioners and prospective users of AHR procedures;
• improved access by children born of AHR procedures to information on their genetic history; and
• increased awareness of the Canadian public of AHR issues or problems.

The Agency sought to make progress towards this priority by concentrating its efforts on the following:

• initiating discussions to enable AHRC to assume responsibility for the Registry Development Project
• initiating technical work in relation to system architecture, quality and security;
• meeting with Privacy Commissioner;
• obtaining Board direction
• liaising with key stakeholders.

Discussions with Health Canada were launched that would see responsibility for the Registry Development Project formally transferred to the Agency. Consistent with this, Agency staff began scoping options for the design of the system's architecture, including its interface with HC-IT platforms and potential registry quality and security standards were also reviewed. A meeting with the federal Privacy Commissioner on issues relating to the protection of personal information of donors, patients and the offspring of AHR provided useful insights for the design of the registry, as did input from AHRC directors and key AHR stakeholders.

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