TORONTO – The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is taking action to develop a province-wide strategy to improve the delivery of supply chain management across the healthcare sector through the Healthcare Sector Supply Chain Strategy.

This strategy aligns with Ministry of Government and Consumer Services’ development of a pan-Ontario public sector supply chain management strategy to create consistent supply chain practices, processes, and systems that can be leveraged across the public sector.

The Ontario Health Innovation Council report The Catalyst recommended a quick shift to strategic value-based procurement.

To support these important initiatives an Expert Panel has been appointed to deliver advice and recommendations to the government on the development and implementation of a province-wide supply chain management strategy for the healthcare sector.

In the coming months, the Expert Panel will engage with healthcare and supply chain stakeholders to leverage their extensive knowledge and expertise. The panel includes:

• Kevin Empey [Chair] (pictured), former president and CEO, Lakeridge Health
• Elyse Allan, president and CEO, GE Canada
• Jodi Butts, executive director of Rise Asset Development
• Ron Gagnon, president and CEO, Sault Area Hospital
• Gabriela Prada, director of health innovation, policy and evaluation, Conference Board of Canada
• Neil Sentance, former assistant deputy minister, supply chain management division, Ministry of Government Services
• Paul Tuttle, former president of Extendicare Canada

A report and recommendations from the expert panel will be provided to the government by the end of the year.

This project builds on the government’s efforts to optimize supply chain efficiencies and improve quality, while focusing on enhancing services to patients.

Members of the public are invited to provide input into the strategy by emailing healthcarescm@ontario.ca until July 2016.