Life Sciences Ontario Releases Vision for a Made-In-Ontario Rare Disease Strategy

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Life Sciences Ontario has released a bold new vision for how the Ontario government can create a provincial rare disease strategy to save lives and boost Ontario’s economy.

The COVID-19 pandemic showed in spades how health challenges will only be overcome with innovation, collaboration and speed.

With the right policies and a comprehensive strategy coordinated nationally, Ontario can build on these lessons. Now is the time to harness advances in science and healthcare for the benefit of both rare disease patients and Ontario’s economic development.

The vision paper outlines five strategic pillars that are necessary to make this happen:

1. Build a workable system for patients that is driven by facts and data
2. A clear, efficient and patient-friendly health regulatory system
3. Accelerated funding for rare diseases diagnosis, treatments and care
4. Make managing rare diseases an economic development strategy
5. Integrate Ontario’s rare disease strategy with other health initiatives and the Canadian Rare Disease Strategy

“By having an integrated strategy for managing rare diseases we can provide cutting-edge diagnosis and care for patients while building our life sciences sector as a vital pillar of a prosperous and growing economy. We hope this vision paper can help catalyze and contribute to these efforts,” said Dr. Jason Field, President and CEO of Life Sciences Ontario.

"When CORD launched Canada’s Rare Disease Strategy in 2015, Ontario was the first province to step forward. But the time is long overdue for provincial and federal governments in partnership with the private and volunteer sectors to act decisively to invest in an integrated Rare Disease plan that will not only deliver optimal care for our patients and families but also increase Canada’s research contributions and ensure long-term return on investment. This vision paper provides a framework and a call to action that must not be ignored,” said Durhane Wong-Rieger, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD).

Read LSO’s vision paper here: https://bit.ly/3kC0Fbs

About Life Sciences Ontario
Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) is a not-for-profit organization that represents and promotes Ontario’s vibrant and diverse life sciences sector. Members of LSO include life sciences companies, entrepreneurs, members of academia, and service providers from many different areas of the life sciences ecosystem, including biopharmaceuticals, agriculture, agri-food, the bioeconomy, medical devices, animal health, environmental technologies, and more. Ultimately, LSO’s mission is to encourage commercial success throughout this diverse sector by collaborating with governments, academia, industry and other life sciences organizations in Ontario and across Canada. lifesciencesontario.ca