"Eighty-five per cent of Internet users look for health information with thousands of Web sites on health-related issues," said Mr. Rock in a launch event linking Toronto, Winnipeg and Montreal by satellite. "The Canadian Health Network is a single door to a world of information that will help Canadians make choices about health and well-being. The Government of Canada has played a leadership role in bringing together this innovative service."

The CHN is a non-profit service funded by and developed in partnership with Health Canada. In the February 1999 Budget, the Government of Canada announced substantial investments for a range of health information and communications technology initiatives. The CHN is one of these key initiatives, receiving $32 million over three years.

The Canadian Health Network opens the door to the collective knowledge and experience of organizations from every province and territory ranging from the Canadian Cancer Society to the Tzu Chi Institute for Complementary & Alternative Medicine.

From AIDS/HIV to mental health, substance use and addiction, the CHN site includes information on a wide array of health issues. Not only does it look at specific health topics, the site also provides insight into regional and societal health concerns, such as rural health, Aboriginal health and homelessness, among others.

The focus of the information is on health promotion and disease prevention. Information resources are intended to help people lead healthier lives by providing them with trustworthy information on how to take care of themselves and others and help prevent illness and disease.

Quality information found easily

As people rely on the Web for health information, they are looking for resources that provide relevant, current and trustworthy information, which they can access quickly. Consultations with Canadians show some are frustrated by the current amount of information without a guide to what they can trust. Bringing together existing expertise and proven information sources from publicly-funded health resource organizations is an efficient way to bring Canadians health information they can trust.

"If a Canadian woman looking for information about stress searches on one of the thousands of health Web sites available today, she may be faced with thousands of results on a single health site alone; wading through vast amounts of information simply becomes too onerous a task," said Bryan Hayday, chief executive officer of the Canadian Health Network. "If she were to type in the same search terms on the Canadian Health Network, today, she would get about 26 results -- a much more manageable number. Furthermore, the results would be from Canadian resources that are proven trustworthy, and she could quickly narrow her search to find resources and support in her region."

One of the unique qualities of the Canadian Health Network is how the information it offers will be managed. CHN will share management and decision-making through its distributed network of partners so that they, and their information and subject matter expertise, become CHN's primary assets. This management structure will enable CHN to provide the best possible information to Canadians.

See also:

CHN Advisory Board of Directors

CHN Advisory Board of Directors: Profiles

CHN Affiliate and Associate Partners

Canadian Health Network

Regional Operating Partners

Canadian Health Network: Quick Facts

Media Inquiries:

Derek Kent, Office of Allan Rock, (613) 957-1515

Bryan Hayday, Canadian Health Network, (416) 408-4499