Launched: Why the National Advisory Committee on Preventive Health Services matters to all of us
When should you start screening for cancer?
What tests should you be offered?
Who qualifies for additional screening or preventive care?
The answers to these questions can affect whether diseases are detected early or too late.
That’s why the launch of the National Advisory Committee on Preventive Health Services (NACPHS) matters.
These recommendations help shape the care received by millions of Canadians. They influence guidance on breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer screening, as well as diabetes, hypertension, postpartum depression, thyroid disease, vision care, and many other aspects of prevention and early detection.
The NACPHS follows the suspension of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care in March 2025 and years of calls for a more modern, transparent, and accountable approach to guideline development.
For nearly a decade, Dense Breasts Canada has advocated for reforms to how preventive health guidelines are developed in Canada because outdated recommendations can delay diagnosis, limit access to screening, and affect health outcomes.
We are encouraged to see many of the reforms we have long advocated for reflected in the new committee’s approach, including:
✔️ Greater accountability and oversight through the Public Health Agency of Canada
✔️ More involvement of clinical experts and patient partners
✔️ Improved transparency
✔️ A broader approach to evidence and emerging technologies
✔️ Greater collaboration with provinces and territories
✔️ Greater focus on health equity and diverse expertise
Why does this matter?
These guidelines influence important decisions, including:
• At what age Canadians are invited for cancer screening
• Which Canadians are considered at higher risk and eligible for additional screening or preventive care
• Whether modern screening technologies and new evidence are incorporated into recommendations
• How healthcare providers advise patients on prevention and early detection
When guidelines fail to keep pace with evidence and clinical practice, Canadians may miss opportunities for earlier detection and prevention. Better preventive care can improve health outcomes while reducing pressure on our healthcare system.
The committee’s first priority should be completing the unfinished breast cancer screening guideline update. Canadians deserve guidance that reflects current science, incorporates expert knowledge, and helps ensure cancers are found as early as possible.
Getting the science, expertise, and transparency right matters. We are hopeful that this new committee will help deliver the evidence-based guidance Canadians deserve.