Ontario pumps $12M into innovation pathway

TORONTO — The Ontario government launched the Health Innovation Pathway, a streamlined system to accelerate the adoption of new health technologies and improve patient care. The pathway will create a consistent process for reviewing and adopting technologies like medical devices and procedures, digital tools, medical imaging and screening, lab and genetic testing and models of healthcare delivery to prioritize made-in-Ontario innovations and ensure more patients receive world-class care close to home.

Co-developed by Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health, the Health Innovation Pathway will ensure Ontario patients can benefit from healthcare innovations faster, while creating jobs, economic growth and helping secure the province’s place as a leading life sciences hub for generations to come.

“Ontario Health will act as the single point of contact and central intake for organizations and individuals submitting proposals to the Health Innovation Pathway,” said Matthew Anderson (pictured), president and CEO, Ontario Health.

“Working in close partnership with the provincial government, we will evaluate eligible proposals and support implementation planning and adoption of new and innovative technologies in Ontario, giving clinicians and health service providers the tools they need to improve care.”

As part of the pathway, through the Health Technology Accelerator Fund, Ontario is also supporting four new projects dedicated to wound care, AI-powered screening and surgical care, including:

1. Wound care management ($5 million investment), including:
   – Digital wound management solutions to help healthcare providers accurately measure and track wounds, using data-driven insights for more effective treatment.
   – Advanced wound care dressings to improve wound healing and reduce the risk of lower limb amputations.
2. AI-powered screening to prevent vision loss ($1.5 million investment), supporting earlier diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy and accelerating treatment to help prevent diabetes-induced vision loss, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults.
3. Computer-assisted navigation systems for total hip and knee arthroplasty ($5 million investment) for patients with chronic and debilitating end-stage arthritic conditions, improving surgical precision and reducing the need for revision surgery.
4. Abdominal wall surgical supports ($500,000 investment) to provide a non-invasive option supporting an open abdomen after surgery – preventing damage, streamlining surgical flow and improving patient outcomes.

The Health Innovation Pathway is part of the government’s Life Sciences Strategy. Ontario Health leads the end-to-end delivery of the Health Innovation Pathway, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Supply Ontario, the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement.