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New Network Developed to Provide United Voice to Medical Specialists

The CPA has stepped forward as one of the lead organizations responsible for launching a new National Specialty Societies (NSS) network, intended to provide medical specialists with a united voice when dealing with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and policy-makers.

Although the Royal College represents specialists through certification and postgraduate training, there is currently no effective way to ensure that the voice of specialty medicine is heard and understood by policy-makers and by government. There are no mechanisms that enable specialist associations to communicate and collaborate, formally or otherwise, with the Royal College.

A survey of the 48 medical specialty societies in Canada was conducted early in 2002. It had a high level of participation and collaboration, with 33 of the 48 societies responding, and it clearly identified major areas of common concern for specialty societies. These include developing more effective linkages to the Royal College and the CMA, health human resources, planning and professional development issues, and specialty care reform.

The NSS network has been formed in response to these identified common issues and needs. As one of the larger medical specialty organizations, the CPA has taken a leading role, acting as the interim secretariat while the network takes shape. In September, a final report was sent to each NSS president. An interim steering committee comprising seven of the specialty societies—some large societies and some small—has been formed. The steering committee has recommended that a collaborative model be used as a governance model for the network. Watch for more coming from the NSS network in 2003.