The federal government has established a fresh advisory committee on preventive healthcare over a year following the halt of a task force’s operations, which faced criticism for not keeping pace with expert advice on cancer screening. The newly formed National Advisory Committee on Preventive Health Services, spearheaded by Dr. David Keegan, a family physician and professor at the University of Calgary’s medical school, comprises 14 members. This committee has taken over from a previous task force initiated in 2009 to create guidelines for preventive health services and screening recommendations for conditions such as cervical and breast cancer.
The former task force’s operations were put on pause in March 2025 by then-Health Minister Mark Holland due to concerns about its reluctance to update breast cancer screening guidelines, despite recommendations from experts, including the Canadian Cancer Society, to lower the mammogram age to 40. Subsequently, some provinces began offering publicly funded mammograms for women aged 40 or 45. In April 2025, an external review of the task force suggested revamping its approach to ensure alignment with evolving evidence, emphasizing the need for a defined mandate, sustained funding, and a transparent governance structure.
Dense Breasts Canada expressed approval of the new advisory committee’s formation, highlighting the urgency of updating breast cancer screening guidelines for the benefit of saving lives, as emphasized by Jennie Dale, the group’s executive director. The federal government noted that the reconstituted committee includes members with diverse backgrounds and expertise, encompassing family doctors, specialists, and professionals in Black and Indigenous health.
