PopData BC operating as normal despite government funding cut

Population Data BC will continue to provide data access and linkage services to Canada’s research community despite a recently announced budget cut from the Ministry of Health Services (MoHS).

“We are able to continue to operate, at least in the short term, thanks to other funding sources and past cost recovery revenues,” said Morris Barer, Population Data BC Board Member and Director of the UBC Centre for Health Services and Policy Research.

In addition to financial support from the MoHS, Population Data BC also receives funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the BC Knowledge Development Fund, and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.

“While we were hoping for positive news from the MoHS, we recognise that the provincial government is facing unprecedented financial challenges,” continued Professor Barer. “However, we believe that there is a strong policy and economic case for government support of Population Data BC and we are doing our utmost to communicate this as quickly, and as effectively, as possible.”  

In the meantime, Population Data BC will continue to assist BC’s research community by providing ‘one stop’ access to a wide range of health care and health services data, fostering insights into human health, well-being and development.