About Us
Who We Are
Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) is a pan-Canadian health organization created and funded by Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial governments. Although our name changed this past year, our core focus remains the same. We power evidence-driven drug, health technology, and health systems decisions for a healthier future for Canada.
We are responsible for driving public value, better coordination, and alignment across the drug, health technology, and health systems landscape. Our organization provides independent evidence appraisal and advice to health system leaders, empowering them to make informed decisions about drugs, health technologies, and broader health system strategies and investments.
In collaboration with national and international partners, we amplify our collective impact on health care.
Our people are fundamental to our success. With a dynamic, inclusive culture that encourages innovation, we continue to attract and retain top talent — whether in our Ottawa and Toronto offices or working remotely across Canada. Our employees bring deep expertise across clinical research, health economics, patient engagement, data and analytics, and beyond, all contributing to our purpose.
Being recognized as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers for a second consecutive year reflects our commitment to creating an exceptional workplace.
Guiding Principles
Everything we do is guided by 5 core principles:
• Excellence
• Agility
• Partnership
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility
• Integrity
Priorities
Our strategic pillars are the foundation of our work:
- Anticipate: Deliver insights for health care decision-makers and health systems.
- Innovate: Realize the full potential of evidence to inform decisions.
- Transform: Foster coordinated and sustainable health systems to advance real-world impact.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility
IDEA is a part of everything we do, and in May 2024, we published our Board-approved IDEA statement on our website. This statement outlines our commitment to integrating IDEA across all aspects of our work and helps us represent the multiple perspectives and diversity found within Canada’s population.
This year we took the next step to move our words into action. We are developing an IDEA action plan to help our organization remain accountable to our commitments, create a path toward shared organizational responsibility, and embed IDEA further into our daily work.
Our Reconciliation Journey
As we continue our journey on the path to reconciliation, we are taking guidance from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis voices and how they wish to shape change. We’re actively leaning into Indigenous knowledge and perspectives with the intent of listening, learning, and supporting.
This past year, we sponsored and attended the National Métis Health Policy Forum and the First Nations Health Managers Association National Conference.
Alongside our pan-Canadian health organization partners, we met with National Indigenous Organizations, including Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Assembly of First Nations, and the Métis National Council. Our aim was to learn and understand more about their unique health priorities and continue dialogue about how we can contribute our skills and support.
Land Acknowledgement
Our employees work across Canada, residing on various traditional lands and collaborating with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples; Elders and Knowledge Keepers; and Indigenous governments, health care providers, and community members. Our Ottawa offices are located on the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. Our Toronto offices are located on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat.
CDA-AMC recognizes the inherent and treaty rights of all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across this land. We acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past and are committed to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.