Provinces, territories need to move on pharmacare
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
Provinces, territories need to move on pharmacare
“Canadians currently pay the second-highest drug prices in the world, trailing only the United States… but advocates with the Council of Canadians and AccessBC… say they worry that if provincial and territorial agreements aren’t made fast enough and an election is called, the program could be dissolved by an incoming Conservative government. Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre has said he does not support the Pharmacare Act. He has called it ‘radical’ and said he will revoke it if elected,” reported Michelle Gamage for The Tyee, October 28, 2024
Parkinson patients need affordable treatments
“We need policymakers to understand the financial impact of Parkinson’s on everyone — the individual, the family and the health-care system — so that affordable treatments and supportive policies can be made accessible to the Parkinson’s community . . .No one should have to choose between life-changing medication, food and shelter,” said Karen Lee, CEO of Parkinson Canada, to Global News, October 29, 2024
We have a consensus – permanent residency and rights, not cuts
“Migrants are not responsible for Canada’s housing crisis, lack of jobs, or inadequate healthcare or other public services. They often live in some of the worst housing conditions, face extreme exploitation at work, and are denied access to basic services. Recent media coverage and public statements linking them to the affordability crisis are distractions from decades of federal and provincial policies that have underfunded and privatized public services. Reductions to migration numbers lean into these xenophobic ideas, eroding public confidence in immigration policies and resulting in greater racism,” stated an open letter organized by the Migrant Rights Network and signed by the Canadian Health Coalition and 140 other organizations in light of recently announced immigration cuts, October 24, 2024
Pandemic preparedness bill not about ‘shutting down’ meat production, says MP in response to Alberta minister
“The bill does not grant any new governmental authorities at all . . . It’s not about eliminating agriculture. It’s about making sure we manage and reduce risks. . . I don’t know why we have to go down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories instead of working together to get the language right,” said Toronto MP Nate Erskine-Smith, about a private member’s bill currently before the Senate, National Newswatch, October 28, 2024
Docs think sick notes to satisfy bosses is a waste of time
“It’s a waste of time for us, and a waste of time for them . . .Our job as doctors is to take care of people who are sick, it’s not to be the employers’ police service or fraud detection service,” said Dr. Michael Green, president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, CBC News, October 28, 2024
Ontario to ban international students from attending undergraduate medical school, also limiting out-of-province students
“We need more doctors, not less. At a time when we have more than two million people without a family doctor, we want to see more publicly funded residency positions. As always, this government’s priorities are in all the wrong places,” said Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles, to the Globe and Mail, October 25, 2024, in response to a provincial government announcement
Health PEI CEO says staff recruitment and retention are top priority
“We want to have a system where staff can take holidays, there’s opportunities for staff to do appropriate training, that they’re working as part of a full team . . .That creates the environment that is more easy to recruit, too. It’s more easy to retain staff. . . We look forward to working with (nurse practitioners) as we get to the (bargaining) table, to find the right agreement that recognizes the role that nurse practitioners and nurses play — the important role that they play — in health care,” said Health PEI CEO Melanie Fraser to CBC News, October 29, 2024
Investigate Ontario home care agency for lack of medical supplies, say Opposition MPPs
“When I had a chance to speak with ministry bureaucrats and to debate the legislation that brought forward Ontario Health atHome, it was clear that, apart from knowing what the branding was — specifically that it would be called Ontario Health atHome — they had no other clue about how this centralized, mega agency would actually perform, would actually be able to deliver care for patients who require it from home . . .They’re scrambling and flying by the seat of their pants,” said Liberal health critic and emergency room doctor Adil Shamji, calling on provincial auditor to investigate lack of critical medical supplies at Ontario agency, to the Toronto Star, October 29, 2024
Quebec to start accepting ‘advance’ requests for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) on Oct. 30, despite no amendments to Criminal Code
“The Government of Canada acknowledges the work the Government of Quebec has conducted on the implementation of advance requests and their interest in having the Criminal Code amended so that advance requests can be permitted for residents of Quebec. As the Criminal Code applies uniformly across Canada and does not permit the provision of MAID based on an advance request, providing MAID pursuant to an advance request remains an offence under the Criminal Code,” as quoted in Global News, from a a news release from the federal ministers of health, justice and the Attorney General of Canada, October 28, 2024
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