Echo: Improving Women’s Health in Ontario will be closing in March 2013 as the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHTLC) shifts its approach to supporting women’s health.
Echo was established in 2007 by the Government of Ontario to advance women’s health equity in Ontario. Opening in 2009, Echo’s key accomplishments include the development, evaluation and dissemination of a best practice model for smoking cessation among pregnant women; strong practice models to expand women’s access to cancer screening; demonstration projects to increase access to cardiac rehabilitation; development of the Ontario Women’s Health Framework; and completion of the groundbreaking POWER (Project for an Ontario Women’s Health Evidence-Based Report) study.
MOHLTC is mainstreaming women’s health research in Ontario by integrated a gender focus into all currently funded policy-relevant research. Women’s health will continue to be a priority area for health services research funding.
In 2012 and 2013, Echo will work with MOHLTC and partners to complete and determine transition plans for projects. Echo maintains that women’s health requires targeted attention because it not been adequately recognized and supported in health policy and practice.
For more information, visit the Echo website atwww.echo.ontario.ca.