Are Canada’s health systems capable of innovation? Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

Canada lags its peers in health systems innovation. Ten years after the federal Advisory Panel on Healthcare Innovation released its report, progress remains limited. In this issue, Manns et al. (2025) revisit the recommendations of the report, assess progress and propose a path forward, including establishing a well-funded innovation agency, advancing interoperable data systems, shifting to value-based funding and fostering patient engagement. The lead essay (Manns et al. 2025), along with the rich and insightful commentaries, highlight both systemic barriers and opportunities for change. Despite past inertia, these strategies offer hope for building an innovation-ready health system capable of meeting future challenges.