Dear friends,
On Tuesday, the Public Health Agency of Canada released the Draft Federal Framework on Lyme Disease. You can read it here. The draft framework was written by the Public Health Agency and is the summation of the information gained during the online consultation process of summer 2015 and the conference of spring 2016.
The framework is required to meet the guidelines set out in my Private Member’s Bill, which include the following:
- the establishment of a national medical surveillance program to use data collected by the Agency to properly track incidence rates and the associated economic costs of Lyme disease;
- the establishment of guidelines regarding the prevention, identification, treatment and management of Lyme disease, and the sharing of best practices throughout Canada; and,
- the creation and distribution of standardized educational materials related to Lyme disease, for use by any public health care provider within Canada, designed to increase national awareness about the disease and enhance its prevention, identification, treatment and management.
My hope is that the final federal framework reflects the input of stakeholders, especially patients’ groups, who have been so dedicated to improving the quality of life for all those suffering from Lyme across Canada.
If you can, please comment on the draft federal framework within the 30 day consultation period. You can do so my emailing your comments, by March 8th, 2017, to:
Lyme.Framework.Consultation_Consultation.Cadre.Lyme@phac-aspc.gc.ca
You can also mail your comments, again by March 8th, 2017, to the following address:
Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch
Public Health Agency of Canada
130 Colonnade Road
Mail slot 6502A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9
Thank you again for your continued engagement on this very important issue. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office should you require any further information.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth May, OC
Member of Parliament
Saanich-Gulf Islands
Leader of the Green Party of Canada