Celebrating the Health Advisory Network and the people behind it
November 06, 2026 – The Health Advisory Network has brought together a valued community to share expertise and strengthen connections. As HealthPartners brings the initiative to a close, we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together and grateful to everyone who contributed.
The HAN was created around a simple thought: Imagine if there were a unified voice of people with all their variations of lived health experience in Canada … and that voice had a home.
Nearly 500 people from across Canada believed in this thought too. Each brought their own experiences as patients, caregivers and support persons, along with a shared belief that people with lived experience should have a say in the decisions and policies that shape healthcare in Canada.
Together, HAN members helped shine a light on important health issues, sharing their experiences and perspectives to help others better understand the challenges Canadians face.
Their contributions helped shape three reports:
Pathways to Inclusion: Managing Health Conditions in Canadian Workplaces
What is it really like to manage a health condition at work? This report explores the challenges people face and what workplaces can do to better support them.
Roadblocks to Diagnosis – Symptoms of a Crisis and Priorities for Improvement
Getting a diagnosis isn’t always straightforward. This report looks at the barriers Canadians encounter and what needs to change.
Who Supports the Support Person?
Behind many people navigating a health challenge is someone helping them through it. This report looks at the experiences of caregivers, the challenges they face and the support they need.
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These reports remain publicly available on our website, and we hope they’ll continue to inform conversations and decisions about healthcare in Canada, with the experiences of patients and support persons at the centre.
We also recognize how important it is for HAN members to have opportunities to continue sharing their lived experiences. That’s why we’re connecting members with other organizations that share our commitment to meaningful patient engagement, including our own member health charities, so those who wish to continue their patient engagement journeys have opportunities to do so with organizations ready to welcome them in.
As HealthPartners looks ahead, we’re bringing the Health Advisory Network to a close with gratitude for the community that helped bring it to life. To our HAN members, our Steering Committee and everyone who contributed to this work: thank you. Thank you for sharing your experiences, giving your time and trusting us with your stories. We’re proud to have played a part in bringing those voices together.
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