The Ministry undertook a review of the 1997 Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines (MHPSG) as part of an overall strategy to rebuild public health capacity within the province.

The following directions served as a foundation for the review :

• Move from guidelines to program standards that are linked with specific performance measures for increased accountability.
• Renew the program standards based on current science, evidence, and best practices.
• Integrate renewed standards into an overall performance management system for public health.
• Adopt a logic model approach to clearly identify and illustrate short- and long-term outcomes.
• Establish ongoing review, enhancement and support processes so that standards are continually evolving.

The review process was guided by a Program Standards Technical Review Committee (TRC), consisting of stakeholders, and staff from the Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care, Health Promotion and Children and Youth Services. The Committee through its co-chairs advised the Chief Medical Officer of Health on the development of the new program standards. The review process is a collaborative endeavour between the three ministries.

An Inter-Ministry Committee was also established to serve as a platform for information exchange across government.

On April 30, 2007, the Program Standards Technical Review Committee (TRC) achieved its mandate and submitted its final draft of the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS) for government consideration. The OPHS received approval in principle, and the development of protocols named in the requirements of the standards, and other supporting documents including a support manual, and training and educational supports for board of health staff for the adoption of the renewed standards is well underway.

Additional information can be found at the Public Health Portal.

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