Health care and profit-making should not go together
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
Montreal health care company under creditor protection reveals health care and profit-making should not go hand-in-hand
“The situation unfolding with ELNA Medical Group underscores the risks of allowing private companies to operate health-care clinics. . . There’s a risk there because if they [companies] don’t make money, they can just pull out,” said Dr. Lyne Couture, president of Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens Laurentides-Lanaudiere, CBC News, December 12, 2024
Doctors, nurses and paramedics saved dad’s life
“We often hear about the shortcomings and challenges in our health-care system and many of those concerns are undoubtedly valid. Everyone’s experience is unique and we acknowledge that. But the reality is, those doctors saved my dad’s life. The care he received from the hospital team was exceptional and he understands just how fortunate he was. . . To the doctors, nurses, paramedics and all staff at the Grace and St. B who cared for my dad, please know that you changed our lives by saving his,” wrote Sabrina Carnevale in the Winnipeg Free Press, December 16, 2024
Fewer emergency departments open in rural Manitoba over the holidays
“For the 18 hospitals that are reliably open 24-7 this holiday, we know that many of those are open by a thread . . .That means there’s a tenuous staffing situation, and there are services like emergency services and maternity services that are very close to having unexpected closures due to holes in the schedule. . . These holes are often filled by physicians and nurses that are working overtime,” said Dr. Nichelle Deslets, president-elect of Doctors Manitoba to the Winnipeg Free Press, December 10, 2024
Cat Lake Chief Russell Wesley hopes pilot project will save lives
“By the time they get to a specialist appointment, it’s months and months later, and by that time, the medical community confirms what the patient has suspected all along, that something’s wrong with them, and usually it’s terminal,” said Cat Lake First Nation Chief Russell Wesley about a pilot project that may end the crisis of unnecessary deaths in remote First Nations to the National Observer, December 13, 2024. Cat Lake First Nation is an Anishinaabe community 180 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout Ontario.
Ontario Medical Association doesn’t want nurse practitioners to oversee long-term care facilities but . . .
“The role of the clinical director is more oversight and policy-driven . . .This doesn’t replace the physicians that will be working with the residents . . . I say to the OMA, let’s move on and do what’s best for residents and their families,” said Doris Grinspun, CEO, Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, to the Toronto Star, December 13, 2024
Cancer survivor says Indigenous patients need to be empowered and informed so they can advocate for themselves
‘We just have a long history of being marginalized and long history of systemic discrimination . . . It’s so key to building trust and a relationship,” said Lianne Mantla-Look to Yahoo News Canada, December 12, 2024
Global health threatened by Trump choice of Robert F. Kennedy as Secretary of Health
“It’s obvious more—not less—immunization is needed, but every bit of ground gained by the anti-vaccine movement is the death knell for children here and abroad. Just this week, Trump promised that Kennedy, as secretary of health, ‘will investigate supposed links between autism and childhood vaccines,’” wrote Andrew Caddell, retired senior policy adviser for Global Affairs Canada, in the Hill Times, December 12, 2024
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