An Inter‐sectoral Approach for Improving HEALTH LITERACY\nfor Canadians: A Discussion Paper

Abstract

In 2008 an Expert Panel on Health Literacy led by the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) produced a report titled A Vision for a Health Literate Canada. This report called for a pan-Canadian strategy for health literacy and the development of policies, programs and research to improve low health literacy levels as one important step towards reducing health disparities in Canada. 1 Furthermore, it recommended the CPHA, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada (HC) collectively provide leadership in supporting its recommended actions and promising approaches.The purpose of this document – An Inter-sectoral Approach to Improve Health Literacy for Canadians (hereafter referred to as the Approach) - is threefold:i)To identify priorities and organize them into a comprehensive framework for improving health literacy in Canadaii)To recommend a set of actions that could be taken at the national, provincial/territorial and local levels for the purpose of increasing health literacy among Canadiansiii)To facilitate conversations amongst practitioners, researchers and policy makers about health literacy and encourage