VANCOUVER - At a two-day International Symposium on Health Innovation, experts from five countries will bring forward ideas and experiences from their jurisdictions, and provide their perspectives on proposedsolutions submitted by British Columbians through the Conversation on Health, announced Health Minister George Abbott.

"When we launched the Conversation on Health last fall, we committed to holding an international symposium so we could learn from the advice and knowledge of experts from other jurisdictions on how we can improve and sustain our public health system," said Abbott. "We will be hearing from some very thought-provoking individuals, which will encourage forum participants to think outside of the box and look for solutions."

The symposium involves a diverse group of over 100 academics, health practitioners, and policy makers from New Zealand, Australia, Britain, the United States and Canada, as well as B.C.-based health-care, community, and Aboriginal leaders. Participants were identified by canvassing those involved in B.C.'s health system, and were chosen for their experience, training, and knowledge. On June 19 and 20, they will discuss and review solutions for four main topics that have emerged from the Conversation - health delivery models, sustainability, health promotion, prevention and education and Aboriginal health.

"During the Conversation on Health, British Columbians have given us thousands of innovative ideas and solutions on how to improve and sustain our public health system," said MLA Mary Polak, Parliamentary Secretary for the Conversation on Health. "One of things I have heard from the Conversation on Health is the need to look outside the province to see what others are doing - and I'm pleased that we will be able to include this input into the final report to government."

The symposium is part of the year-long Conversation on Health, an unprecedented discussion on health with and among British Columbians that began in September 2006. The symposium discussions will be transcribed and posted to the Conversation website at www.BCConversationonHealth.ca.

All input gathered through the Conversation on Health will be included in a report that will be presented to the Province in fall 2007. This report will help guide new programs, services and legislation for B.C.'s public health system, in accordance with the principles of the CanadaHealth Act.