Open for signatureElectronice-7791 · Parliament 45

National strategy for PANS and PANDAS

Sign on the House of Commons website

Petitioners ask the House of Commons to establish a national strategy for infection-associated neuropsychiatric disorders, fund CIHR research, and require accredited CME and training for clinicians and educators.

Why we would sign this petition

  • Would create standardized national pathways for early diagnosis and treatment, reducing diagnostic delays and helping prevent long-term complications for affected children.
  • Directed CIHR funding would support clinical trials, biomarker discovery and early-intervention protocols that could clarify effective treatments.
  • Mandatory accredited CME and training across specialists, primary care and education staff would improve recognition and coordinated care nationwide.

Why we wouldn’t sign this petition

  • Health delivery is provincially managed; a federal strategy would depend on provincial adoption and could face limits in uniform implementation.
  • Funding research, training and national coordination requires substantial resources and may compete with other health priorities.
  • Mandating standards and training before broad clinical consensus or more evidence could be premature for establishing specific protocols.

The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled Infection-associated neuroinflammatory conditions, including Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS), cause sudden, severe neuropsychiatric deterioration in children following common infections; PANS and PANDAS are treatable medical conditions; however, early identification and prompt medical intervention are critical to prevent long-term neurological complications, chronic disability, and severe symptom escalation; Families across Canada face major care gaps and diagnostic delays due to a critical lack of standardized education across medical, mental health, and educational systems; and While healthcare delivery is provincially managed, federal leadership sets national health standards, funds medical research, and drives cross-jurisdictional clinical frameworks. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to: 1. Establish a National Strategy for Infection-Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders to support early identification, standardized care, and equitable access to treatment nationwide; 2. Direct targeted research funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for clinical trials, biomarker discovery, and early intervention protocols; and 3. Partner with Health Canada and professional bodies to fund and mandate accredited Continuing Medical Education (CME) and training modules on post-infectious neuroinflammation for medical specialists (pediatric neurologists, psychiatrists, immunologists, rheumatologists, infectious disease, emergency), primary and allied health providers (family physicians, pediatricians, psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, OTs), and educational staff (school counselors and resource staff).

Government response

No government response is available yet.