Poorest Ontarians less likely to access cataract surgeries in private, for-profit clinics: study
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
Poorest Ontarians less likely to access cataract surgeries in private, for-profit surgical clinics: study
“Canadians should be concerned when really solid, high-quality, research published in a respected scientific journal is telling us that for-profit surgical centres aren’t going to improve access to care in a way that is fair to everyone,” said Karen S. Palmer, researcher and adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University, to the Toronto Star, August 26, 2024
“This study has shown that a preference for for-profit cataract surgeries is delivering fewer operations than we would expect with one exception and that’s for the wealthiest and most well-off in Ontario. Everyone else, including people who are struggling with the cost of living, are being left behind,” said Dr. Danyaal Raza, assistant professor with the department of medicine at University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine and family doctor at St. Michael’s Hospital, to the Toronto Star, August 26, 2024
Will Jane Philpott return to politics?
“If I were there again, I wish I could have moved on and continued work on access to primary care, which is my greatest passion . . .You can’t ever act fast enough to solve all of the problems … And I was not able to accomplish all the things that I would have liked to. . . It’s possible that might involve a role in government some day, but I’m still exploring what that might look like,” said former Liberal health minister Jane Philpott, to CBC, August 24, 2024
Abacus poll says private health care still too risky for most voters
“Would you support a party allowing Canadians to ‘pay to access most health-care procedures?’ . . .39 per cent of respondents would never vote for such a party, while only 19 per cent said they would,” reported The Hill Times, August 27, 2024
“We want to ensure that Canadians have access to those basic, frontline primary care services … without having to pay out of pocket,” said outgoing Canadian Medical Association President Dr. Kathleen Ross in an Aug. 20 interview to The Hill Times, August 27, 2024
Drug ads — are the drugs right for you or right for the company that’s selling them?
“Those in favour of drug commercials argue that it helps prompt patients to visit their doctor with previously undiagnosed problems. While this does sometimes happen, the Canadian Medical Association supports banning the practice. The prescriptions that are issued as a result of drug commercials are often unnecessary, of lower quality, inappropriate and sometimes harmful. In a trial where simulated patients asked for a prescription for an antidepressant by name where non-drug therapy was the first-line treatment, 59 per cent walked away with a prescription for that drug. U.S. data found that exposure to drug commercials was associated with inappropriate prescribing to those at low risk of cardiac events who would not benefit from statins. . . Instead of drug ads ending with the message that patients should ask their doctor if the drug is right for them, ads should end by telling patients to ask their doctor if the ad is right for them,” said Dr. Joel Lexchin, Canadian Health Coalition board member, professor emeritus at York University, and retired emergency department physician, the Toronto Star, August 24, 2024
NDP House Leader Peter Julian pledges improved dental care and pharmacare in fall sitting
“Last spring, Leader Jagmeet Singh and the NDP forced the government to finally launch the NDP’s dental care plan. Already, 2.3 million Canadians have joined the dental care plan. This fall, the caucus will be holding (the government’s) feet to the fire over (the) bungled implementation of the plan, and making sure every Canadian who is eligible for the dental care program gets the care they need, when they need it. . . When fully implemented, millions of Canadians will save thousands of dollars through dental care. . . The NDP also laid the foundations of a long-needed national pharmacare program. . . We need to get pharmacare up and running, starting with birth control and diabetes medications, and then expanding to other drugs,” said Peter Julian, MP for New Westminister-Burnaby, BC, to The Hill Times, August 21, 2024
And in Manitoba, birth control meds on the agenda
“We are taking steps to make sure that folks are going to be able to get access via a number of primary-care providers . . . We want to limit the barriers to women. You can get a prescription from your family doctor, nurse practitioner, other primary-care providers. . . We’re going to be enhancing authorized prescriber ability — we’re going to be looking at incorporating other primary-care providers — nurses and other folk — and make them authorized to be able to prescribe birth control . . . It’s the right thing to do for health care and reproductive justice. . .It’s what Manitobans have been asking for for years. It’s what health-care providers have been asking for for years,” said Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara, to the Winnipeg Free Press, August 22, 2024
Set up to fail? Alberta health care ‘overhaul’ not working
“Waits for routine surgeries, such as hip replacements and hernias, are lengthening. Some people dig into their pockets and pay up to go to Ontario or B.C. for their operation thanks to the rules put in place by the federal government. Meanwhile, the number of for-profit surgery clinics for hip, knee, and cataract operations, which are covered by Alberta Health, continues to expand but we have no idea if those clinics cost the government more, shortened waiting lists, or provided good care,” wrote Gillian Steward in the Toronto Star, August 27, 2024
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