As outlined in Operation Health Protection - An Action Plan to Prevent Threats to our Health and to Promote a Healthy Ontario, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) has committed to undertake a capacity review of local Public Health Units in 2004/2005 to inform the development of long-term strategies to enhance capacity to plan and implement optimal Public Health programs and services that effectively respond to the current and emerging needs of Ontarians.

The MOHLTC has established a Capacity Review Committee to provide guidance and support in this endeavour.

The Capacity Review Committee advises the Chief Medical Officer of Health and, through her, MOHLTC on options to improve the function and configuration of the local Public Health Unit system. The advice to be provided encompasses the following :

• core capacities required (such as infrastructure, staff, etc.) at the local level to meet communities' specific needs (based on geography, health status, health need, cultural mix, health determinants, etc.) and to effectively provide public health services (including specific services such as applied research and knowledge transfer);
• issues related to recruitment, retention education and professional development of public health professionals in key disciplines (medicine, nursing, nutrition, dentistry, inspection, epidemiology, communications, health promotion, etc.);
• identifying operational, governance and systemic issues that may impede the delivery of public health programs and services;
• mechanisms to improve systems and programmatic and financial accountability;
• strengthening compliance with the Health Protection and Promotion Act, associated Regulations and the Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines;
• organizational models for Public Health Units that optimize alignment with the configuration and functions of the Local Health Integration Networks, primary care reform and municipal funding partners; and staffing requirements and potential operating and transitional costs.

The Capacity Review Committee has the following responsibilities :

• Consult with local public health units and with representatives of the MOHLTC and other appropriate ministries (i.e., traveling to local health units for meetings, focus groups, key informant interviews, call for submissions).
• Consult with key public health stakeholders (e.g., Association of Local Public Health Agencies, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, City of Toronto, Ontario Public Health Association, Ontario Council on Community Health Accreditation, and various professional associations).
• Commission appropriate external research to support the review.
• Review and integrate relevant information (both internal and external) regarding other significant health restructuring initiatives, as well as be guided by overall MOHLTC system and planning goals and priorities, drawing and building on national and other relevant initiatives
.

The CMOH appoints the Chair, Vice-Chair and members of the committee.

The committee includes people with expertise in public health delivery systems and organization in Ontario as well as change management in the health system. The committee membership will be representative of Ontario.

Through the Chair, the committee reports to the Chief Medical Officer of Health and Assistant Deputy Minister of the Public Health Division. An ad hoc internal Ministerial Committee has been established to liaise with this committee.

The committee is supported by staff from the Strategic Planning and Implementation Branch of the Public Health Division of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Committee members shall be appointed for a period of up to one year. This term may be extended, upon the needs of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Due to the magnitude of the Capacity Review, the mandate of the CRC has been expanded until March 31, 2006 to allow time for the CRC to undertake the work required to develop recommendations in these areas: governance and structure, funding, health human resources, accountabilities and research and knowledge transfer. A final report with recommendations is anticipated to be released in March 2006.

• Committee Members

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