The CCIH's role is to influence and catalyse change by endorsing and communicating appropriate concepts and approaches to all the key health stakeholders in Canada. In doing so, the CCIH will help eliminate traditional silos and build bridges between sectors in the health care system.

Conceived in 1997 the CCIH is driven by the emergence of several key trends in the Canadian health care system. These include:

• the shifting and rapidly escalating need for health care funding;
• advances in information and health care technologies;
• the redefinition of employers' health-related responsibilities, and;
• the need for integration and collaboration within the continuum of care.

The original intent of the CCIH was to bring together key opinion leaders from across the Canadian private health sector to exchange views and develop solutions on the evolving management of health care in Canada. More recently, the Council has broadened its membership to include expertise from consumer, health professional, and political perspectives.

The CCIH is the only national, multi-stakeholder professional forum in Canada working to encourage constructive and inclusive dialogue on challenging health-related issues.