Event Details

The role of public health funding in improving population health and reducing health inequities during a public health emergency remains understudied. Using data from the Ontario Public Health Indicator Database (OPHID) study, this PHO Rounds will examine the association between pre-pandemic local public health unit (PHU) funding per capita and severe COVID 19 outcomes and vaccination coverage across Ontario.

We further assess whether these associations differ by key equity-related characteristics, including immigration status and area level measures of material resources and the proportion of racialized and newcomer populations. By linking public health investment to pandemic outcomes and distributional impacts, this analysis provides evidence on how public health funding impacts population health and health equity during a crisis. Findings offer timely insights to inform discussions on public health financing, pandemic preparedness, and equitable recovery in the post COVID 19 period.

Intended Audience: 
Medical Officers of Health/Associate Medical Officer of Health Ministry of Health professionals, public health professionals working in equity and emergency preparedness, health economists, researchers.

By the end of this event, participants will be able to:

• Describe the association between pre‑pandemic local public health unit (PHU) funding per capita and severe COVID‑19 outcomes and vaccination coverage in Ontario.
• Evaluate the implications of differential public health funding for health equity during a pandemic, with attention to immigration status, material deprivation, and racialized and newcomer populations.
• Apply findings from the OPHID study to evaluate the implications of public health funding levels for pandemic preparedness and health equity in future public health emergencies.

Brendan Smith, PhD is a Scientist at Public Health Ontario in Population Health and Associate Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto whose primary research interests focus on the application of epidemiological methods to estimate the health equity impacts of population health interventions.

Roman Pabayo, PhD is a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Social and Health Equities and Professor in Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Alberta's School of Public Health. As the principal investigator of the EMERGE Lab, Dr. Pabayo’s research focuses on how contextual factors of our social and economic environments influence various aspects of our health.

Together, they co-lead the Ontario Public Health Information Dataset (OPHID) Study, to examine the impacts of funding changes in Ontario’s public health system on population health and health equity.

The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.

Public Health Ontario Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

Other colleges, including the College of Family Physicians of Canada, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario and the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors, may accept RCPSC accredited events on a per-hour basis. Please contact your relevant college should you have any questions.

In order to receive written documentation for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, please check "Yes" beside the question "Do you require CME credits?" on the registration form.

For more information or for a record of registration for other Continuing Education purposes, please contact capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.

Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.