Toronto — Ontario is moving to accelerate the way new health technologies are adopted in the province’s health-care system, with the launch of the Health Innovation Pathway. The initiative, announced today by the Ministry of Health, is designed to streamline approvals, connect patients with innovative care options sooner, and position Ontario as a global hub for medical innovation.
The new framework creates a standardized process for evaluating and adopting health technologies ranging from medical devices and imaging tools to lab testing and digital health solutions. By prioritizing Ontario-made innovations, the province hopes to strengthen its health-care system while creating economic opportunities in the life sciences sector.
“Our government is continuing to take bold action to connect patients to best-in-class health-care solutions, many of which allow patients to receive care in the comfort of home, or better connect with their health-care providers,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The Health Innovation Pathway is just one more way we are protecting our health-care system and connecting more people in Ontario to the care they need when and where they need it.”
Driving Innovation in Patient Care
The Health Innovation Pathway was co-developed by Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health to give patients access to proven technologies faster. It is also expected to stimulate investment and job creation, reinforcing Ontario’s place in the global life sciences economy.
Through the Health Technology Accelerator Fund, the government is backing four new projects that highlight the scope of potential applications:
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Wound care management ($5 million investment): Projects include digital wound management solutions that provide clinicians with data-driven insights and advanced dressings aimed at reducing healing time and lowering the risk of amputations.
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AI-powered vision screening ($1.5 million investment): Technology designed to detect diabetic retinopathy earlier, with the goal of preventing diabetes-related vision loss — the leading cause of blindness among adults.
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Computer-assisted navigation for joint replacement ($5 million investment): Surgical systems to improve precision in hip and knee arthroplasty procedures, reducing complications and the likelihood of revision surgeries.
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Abdominal wall surgical supports ($500,000 investment): Non-invasive post-surgical supports intended to reduce damage, streamline operating procedures, and improve patient outcomes.
These targeted investments form part of the province’s wider Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, which focuses on modernizing health-care delivery and expanding access to high-quality services.
Business and Economic Growth
Government officials emphasize that the pathway is not just about health outcomes, but also about bolstering the province’s innovation economy.
“The launch of the Health Innovation Pathway marks an important step forward in accelerating the adoption of medical technologies that will not only deliver better outcomes for patients and their families, but further position our province as a global leader in biomanufacturing and life sciences,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “By providing a pathway for these Ontario-made solutions and innovations to be implemented in our medical system, this initiative will champion our researchers, unlock new opportunities for commercialization, and build on the ambitions set out in our government’s Life Sciences Strategy.”
Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, added that the program will give Ontario companies an advantage while reinforcing the province’s supply chains. “We’re making it easier for Ontario’s health-care system to adopt the best technologies faster, especially those built right here at home,” Crawford said. “By streamlining procurement and putting Ontario-made innovation first, we’re protecting our supply chains, supporting good-paying jobs, and delivering better care for patients.”
Supply Ontario and Centralized Procurement
The province’s procurement agency, Supply Ontario, will play a key role in ensuring the pathway operates smoothly. CEO Jamie Wallace said the agency will use its procurement expertise to help scale Ontario innovations and make them accessible to health-care providers across the province.
“Supply Ontario will leverage its procurement toolkit to unlock and scale opportunities for local innovators, driving growth and economic development across Ontario,” Wallace said. “The Health Innovation Pathway provides access to cutting-edge health-care solutions, which benefit patients and health-care providers and supports Ontario innovators.”
A Streamlined Entry Point for Innovators
Ontario Health will serve as the single point of contact for innovators looking to introduce new technologies to the health system. Proposals will be evaluated and supported for implementation planning, with the goal of speeding up adoption and deployment in clinical settings.
“Ontario Health will act as the single point of contact and central intake for organizations and individuals submitting proposals to the Health Innovation Pathway,” the organization stated. “Working in close partnership with the provincial government, we will evaluate eligible proposals and support implementation planning and adoption of new and innovative technologies in Ontario, giving clinicians and health service providers the tools they need to improve care.”
Building on Previous Investments
The Health Innovation Pathway builds on Ontario’s Life Sciences Strategy, which included a $201-million investment to grow biomanufacturing capacity. Since 2019, the province has also invested more than $124 million in digital and virtual care initiatives, benefitting more than 6.1 million Ontarians.
By establishing a structured process and targeted funding, the government is aiming to reduce the lag between development and real-world use of new health-care technologies. For patients, that could mean earlier diagnoses, better treatment outcomes, and more access to care closer to home. For businesses, it represents a chance to bring innovations to market with provincial backing.
As Ontario looks to the future, the Health Innovation Pathway is expected to become a cornerstone of its broader strategy to modernize care, stimulate economic activity, and secure its standing as a leader in the global life sciences sector.
