Bill C-284: An Act to establish a national strategy for eye care

Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the National Strategy for Eye Care Act . National Strategy for Eye Care Development 2 (1) The Minister of Health must, in consultation with the representatives of the provincial governments responsible for health, Indigenous groups and other relevant stakeholders, develop a national strategy to support the prevention and treatment of eye disease, as well as vision rehabilitation, to ensure better health outcomes for Canadians. Content (2) The national strategy must describe the various forms of eye disease and may include measures to (a) identify the needs of health care professionals and other professionals in relation to training and guidance on the prevention and treatment of eye disease and on vision rehabilitation; (b) promote research and improve data collection on eye disease prevention and treatment and on vision rehabilitation; (c) promote information and knowledge sharing between the federal and provincial governments in relation to eye disease prevention and treatment and to vision rehabilitation; and (d) ensure that the Minister is able to rapidly examine, in accordance with the Food and Drugs Act , certain applications and submissions in respect of devices and drugs , as those terms are defined in section 2 of that Act, that are intended for use in relation to eye disease, including macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Considerations (3) The national strategy must take into consideration existing frameworks, strategies and best practices related to the prevention and treatment of eye disease and to vision rehabilitation, including those that focus on addressing health inequalities. Conference (4) For the purpose of developing the strategy, the Minister must hold at least one conference with the persons referred to in subsection (1). Reports to Parliament Tabling of strategy 3 (1) Within 18 months after the day on which this Act comes into force, the Minister of Health must prepare a report setting out the national strategy and cause it to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed. Publication (2) The Minister must publish the report on the website of the Department of Health within 10 days after the day on which it is tabled in Parliament. Report 4 (1) Within five years after the report referred to in section 3 has been tabled in both Houses of Parliament, the Minister of Health must prepare a report on the effectiveness of the national strategy and on the state of eye disease prevention and treatment that also sets out the Minister’s conclusions and recommendations regarding the strategy. Tabling of report (2) The Minister must cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed. Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month Designation 5 Throughout Canada, in each year, the month of February is to be known as “Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month”.