2023/24
Unlocking innovation and smart solutions for healthcare excellence Canada wide
Message from our President & CEO
Dear Members,
As I reflect on the past year at HealthPRO Canada and our broader healthcare sector, I am inspired by the incredible progress we’ve made through collaboration and partnerships.
While challenges such as supply chain disruptions, economic difficulties, climate change, and a severe shortage of healthcare workers persist, I am confident in our ability to tackle these issues head-on. My conversations with our nationwide network of Members and Suppliers reinforce my belief that together, we can overcome any obstacle.
I am honoured to lead HealthPRO Canada during a time when we are making significant strides as Canada’s group contracting provider for healthcare. We have a clear vision for our future: to drive solutions for our healthcare system’s greatest challenges. By leveraging our national reach, clinical and supply chain expertise, and strong partnerships, we are transforming the Canadian healthcare landscape and improving patient care.
At our AGM last year, we launched our 3-year strategic plan focused on three key pillars:
1. Pursuing world-class procurement
2. Driving insights from data
3. Igniting stakeholder networks
“ “
HealthPRO Canada is BREAKING THROUGH to drive solutions to the biggest challenges we all face. Achieving a truly resilient healthcare supply chain cannot be realized by any one organization alone. Together, we will create a better health system for all Canadians.
One year into our plan, we are making steady progress in all three areas on behalf of our network of over 1,300 Members and hundreds of Suppliers across the country.
Along the way, we have delivered significant results, such as the recently launched Healthcare Supply Chain Playbook. This Playbook, fueled by collaboration across our network, outlines practical actions to reduce disruptions and create a more resilient supply chain. We have also delivered millions of dollars in savings to Members through our contracts and helped innovative Suppliers enter the Canadian marketplace.
We are on track to continue reaching our objectives putting our strategic plan into action in the coming year. We will remain agile and adapt to the evolving procurement, healthcare, and economic environment to best serve our Members.
HealthPRO Canada owes tremendous credit to all of you for our success and accomplishments. Your feedback, ideas, and commitment to improve healthcare for Canadian patients drive us forward.
Enjoy reading our 2024 edition of the Annual Review, where you will find examples of actions we have taken and initiatives we have introduced through collaboration with our stakeholders.
I would like to extend my gratitude to our Members and Suppliers for your continued support and to our Board of Directors for your oversight of our strategy.
Together, we have achieved significant milestones, and together, we will continue to shape the future of Canadian healthcare.
Sincerely,
Christine Donaldson President and CEO HealthPRO Canada
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Thank you to our 2023/24 Board of Directors who generously invested their time and energy providing strategic counsel and support throughout the year. We are grateful for your contributions and expertise.
Dr. Bernard Leduc
Independent Director Ottawa, Ontario
Duska Kennedy
Chief Digital Officer, North York General Hospital Toronto, Ontario
Marc Toppings Board Chair
HealthPRO Canada
Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, University Health Network (UHN) Toronto, Ontario
Dr. David Byres
President and CEO, Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) Vancouver, British Columbia
Mark Anderson Vice Chair
HealthPRO Canada CEO, 3sHealth Regina, Saskatchewan
Maria Cendou
Executive Chief Operating Officer, Shared Administrative Services, Shared Health Winnipeg, Manitoba
Kim Kerrone
Secretary-Treasurer
HealthPRO Canada Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Legal Services and Risk Island Health Victoria, British Columbia
Derek Spinney
Vice President Corporate Services, Infrastructure and Chief Financial Officer, Nova Scotia Health Halifax, Nova Scotia
Mark Fam President,
St. Mary’s General Hospital Kitchener, Ontario
Mary Lee
Independent Director Bedford, Nova Scotia
Ian Khan
Independent Director Toronto, Ontario
Independent Director Oakville, Ontario
Independent Director Montreal, Quebec
Welcome to our Incoming Directors Ex Officio
Scott Bishop
Vice President of Corporate
Services and Chief Financial Officer
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services
Newfoundland and Labrador
Dr. Carolyn Gosse
Clinical Vice President, Home and Older Adult Strategy, University Health Network (UHN) Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Fayez Quereshy
Surgical Oncologist & VP, Clinical, University Health Network (UHN)
Toronto, Ontario
Kelly Thompson
Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Donaldson
President and CEO, HealthPRO Canada Oakville, Ontario
Eileen Tobey
Sébastien Beauchamp
Christine
HealthPRO Canada’s national scope, growing network and collaborative approach puts us in a powerful leadership position. We are breaking through to champion system-wide impact, using our unique voice and influence on issues that matter to Members and Suppliers, as well as millions of Canadian patients.
Christine Donaldson President and CEO, HealthPRO Canada
Our Achievements 2023/24 Highlights
Breaking Through to Build Innovation
Hosted Inaugural Supplier
Tradeshow & Innovation Showcase
By leveraging our national scope and expertise, HealthPRO Canada is breaking through barriers to build innovation. We are at the forefront of transforming the Canadian healthcare landscape.
As we accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions, we are helping Suppliers and Members across Canada thrive and grow.
Last fall, our inaugural Supplier Tradeshow and Innovation Showcase brought together nearly 300 procurement professionals, clinicians, and healthcare suppliers from eight provinces. The event facilitated connections and showcased products from 70 exhibitors, helping innovators break into the Canadian market.
Launched Innovation Accelerator Program
Our Innovation Accelerator Program connects Suppliers with unique solutions to over 1,300 healthcare facilities, accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies that enhance patient outcomes and drive economic prosperity.
In the process, we are setting a new standard for what it means to be innovative in healthcare.
9 Awarded Innovators
Breaking Through to Build Supply Chain Resiliency
HealthPRO Canada is leading an industry-wide movement to protect Canadians from the growing threat of supply disruptions.
We recently launched our Healthcare Supply Chain Playbook, which sets out practical steps for healthcare organizations to mitigate disruptions and create a more resilient, connected system. Collaboration was essential in developing the Playbook, and it will be key to strengthening our supply chain.
Through its development, we engaged over 150 individuals representing over 100 groups, including provincial health authorities, hospitals, global and domestic suppliers, government, group purchasing organizations, and industry associations from across Canada and Europe.
To achieve a truly resilient healthcare supply chain — one that maintains the right product, in the right quantity, on time, in the right place and price — even amidst disruption, cannot be realized by any single organization on its own.
It will require local, domestic and international organizations to increase collaboration and share data with each other more freely. Organizations across the supply chain will have to rethink how we work together to enable safe, high-quality, uninterrupted patient care.
Now, our focus shifts to implementation.
Over the coming year, we will convene cross-sector working groups, including industry partners and government, to create action plans that accelerate the Playbook’s adoption nationwide.
We are grateful to all who shared input and expertise with us as we developed the Playbook. We will continue to seek your support as we lead the way in improving information sharing, agile contracting practices, and collaborative problem-solving for a more resilient supply chain.
Breaking Through a Challenged Economy & HHR
Launched Enhanced Nutrition & Food Program
HealthPRO Canada has leveraged its national scope and purchasing power to help Members and healthcare facilities navigate steep food inflation that has consistently outpaced the general inflation rate.
Since December 2021, prices for essential food items have increased sharply, challenging healthcare facilities to maintain nutrition quality while managing costs. This inflation has necessitated strategic adjustments in procurement and menu planning within healthcare institutions.
Our enhanced Nutrition & Food Program now brings together $15 billion in national purchasing power, delivering an average of six to 15 percent savings to our Members.
In addition to financial benefits, the enhanced program offers a multitude of value-added services including menu planning and access to more than 6,000 recipes that can be tailored to different patient populations.
The program also streamlines administrative processes, which is helpful as healthcare facilities continue to experience staffing shortages.
Delivered Balanced Risk Contracts in Challenging Times
As we navigate difficult economic conditions, implementing innovative procurement strategies with balanced risk is crucial.
Global supply chain challenges, inflationary pressures and limited access to accurate demand forecasts have put unprecedented strain on Suppliers. To ensure continuous supply for patient care without disruptions, we have strategically negotiated contracts, in critical areas like IV solutions and Peritoneal Dialysis.
These smart strategies maintain competitive pricing while ensuring uninterrupted care for our Members.
Value by the Numbers
Driving Operational Efficiencies on Behalf of 1,300 Healthcare Facilities
Evaluated and Awarded
1,214 Contracts
Capital Equipment
Supply Agreements for biologics and patented medications
Resolved
173 Product Concerns Evaluated
828 Products for Quality
Clinical
Market Response Contracts
Pharmaceuticals
Signature and Support Services
Food and Nutrition Services
Savings and Cost Containment in Inflationary Times
Cost Recovery
HealthPRO Canada recovers the increased cost incurred by Members resulting from drug shortages.
Contract Differential Refund Service
$2.76M recovered in 2023/24
$107.1M since 2010
National Contracts Delivered in savings $161M
$61M in 2023/24 Dividends Returned $933M Since 1996
Lean Operations
Investment in running national contracting operations on behalf of the Canadian healthcare system
0.87% of contract value
116 Critical Drugs, 2 suppliers awarded for each contract
Mitigated by Having a Backup
Shortages
Welcome New Members
Shroeder Ambulatory Care
Future Commitments
Looking Forward
As we look ahead, HealthPRO Canada’s sights are set squarely on advancing system-wide solutions focused on three priorities:
Enhancing Access to Care
Driving Innovation
Improving Sustainability
Breaking through to smarter insights and a powerful, connected network.
We are on a mission to transform healthcare procurement. Our Insights+ Member and Supplier Platforms will allow our network to:
1) Access actionable intelligence easily
The platforms become centralized work hubs, enabling Members and Suppliers to take care of everything related to procurement – from contract approvals to discovering innovative products, managing supply chain disruptions, and raising product concerns – all within a user-friendly environment.
2) Gain a competitive edge with data-driven decision-making
The platform unlocks valuable insights beyond spend and savings. Gain a clear picture of market trends, potential disruptions, and promising new products – all readily available to inform strategic procurement decisions.
3) Reap the benefits of a connected ecosystem
Our global network of healthcare providers and Suppliers enables sharing of knowledge and best practices and provides access to a wider range of resources to inform procurement decisions.
Breaking Through to a More Sustainable Healthcare System
HealthPRO Canada is using responsible procurement to break through to a more sustainable healthcare system and a healthier planet.
Making an Impact through Digital Assessment Tools
Members now have access to more digital tools than ever before to help make sustainable product and Supplier decisions.
We are making an impact through our growing line of innovative Digital Impact Assessment Tools which Members are using to compare difficult-to-measure environmental impacts based on their actual purchase data.
By leading the charge, we have driven a decline in the use of desflurane gas – which for every hour of use is equivalent to a 300 km car ride – to sevoflurane which is equivalent to a mere five-kilometre journey.
Congratulations to our Member provinces leading the change in decreased use - Newfoundland with a 39% reduction, Ontario at 27%, B.C. at 23%, and the Northwest Territories eliminating its use entirely.
Sustainability Scorecard Driving Greater Commitments
Our enhanced Sustainability Scorecard is also driving greater commitments across our network. The scorecard is used across all contracts and now incorporates criteria on water stewardship, forced labour practices and Scope 3 emissions. This scorecard is another signal to Members and Suppliers alike that we are committed to supporting them in advancing their environmental and social sustainability efforts.
HealthPRO Canada is proud to assist our more than 1,300 Member facilities make environmentally responsible choices for Canadians and the planet.
Provinces decreased use of desflurane gas.
Breaking Through to a More Sustainable Healthcare System
Walking the Talk
As authentic ESG stewards, we are walking the talk on sustainability.
HealthPRO Canada has made great strides in integrating sustainability into our governance model and operations.
To underscore our commitment to social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, we are actively pursuing our B Corp certification – an international measure of an organization’s impact across all three aspects of ESG.
Education and Engagement
We continue to keep the conversation going on greening healthcare through education and raising awareness by hosting our third annual Sustainability Rounds event, Beyond the Buzz.
Canadian Supply Chain Stakeholders collaborated on practical tactics for a sustainable healthcare future
of participants now feel more empowered to lead sustainability efforts
Member-Led Sustainability Committee
Over the coming year, we will be working with our newly formed national, Member-Led Sustainability Committee with 20 representatives across seven provinces to drive forward sustainability solutions in healthcare.
Breaking Through to Champion System-Wide Impact
HealthPRO Canada’s national scope, partnerships, and collaborative approach puts us in a powerful leadership position.
We are breaking through to champion system-wide impact, using our unique voice and influence on issues that impact Members and Suppliers, as well as millions of Canadian patients.
Better Continuity of Care
We have taken a leadership role in accelerating the adoption of biosimilar medications, which promises to deliver significant cost savings and provide patients with high-quality treatments.
As provinces adopt biosimilar policies, HealthPRO Canada is working closely with our supplier community and aligning with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance agreements to ensure patients have access to their trusted biosimilars during hospital stays, while driving significant savings for the healthcare system.
Supporting Hospitals Through Unplanned Downtime
We are supporting hospitals through emerging threats, such as ransomware attacks that cause significant disruption and unplanned downtime.
Last year alone, hackers targeted more than 140 hospitals across the country, many of which resulted in lengthy periods of downtime.
Through our telepharmacy contract, HealthPRO Canada
Members have access to a cloud-based medication management software that helps minimize disruption caused by these cyberattacks.
To date, our supply agreements for biosimilars have saved Members approximately $178M
Once a downtime incident is resolved, hospitals have the ability to repopulate patient medical records accurately and efficiently.
Advocating for Patient Safety
Patient Safety
We are focused on using our voice to increase patient safety.
Through our ongoing national advocacy, we are driving a breakthrough in the number of Suppliers adopting 2D barcodes on medications.
These barcodes enable healthcare workers to manage medications safely and effectively by tracking inventory using lot, expiry date and traceability to the patient receiving the dose.
of high-risk injectable medications now have 2D barcodes, compared to just 2% three years ago 39%
We will continue to push for more on this issue and others that directly impact patient safety.
