Canada Health Act

Crucial for health system, many caregivers are struggling financially and emotionally

Caregivers are ‘glue that keeps the health-care system together,’ foundation says. Stephane Alexis embraces his brother Torence, left, as they are photographed in their family home near Ottawa. Stephane helps provide care … READ MORE

How to improve health care in Canada

Expanding public funding for cost-effective treatments, investing in primary care, embracing technology and engaging patients are some of the ways Canada can improve the quality of health care, according to an analysis in CMAJ … READ MORE

Did Canada break a promise to its disabled citizens?

Despite their differing approaches, both Canada and the U.S. face challenges in keeping their promise to improve the economic wellbeing of their disabled citizens. Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities Carla Qualtrough rises … READ MORE

Universal health coverage can best be achieved by public systems

Expanding coverage by ushering in the private sector results in inequities in access, argue Ramya Kumar and Anne-Emanuelle Birn. A new study on universal health care shows partisans are bad at reading studies. The New Republic The BMJ … READ MORE

Should Canada’s health insurance system be a model for the United States?

Most rich democracies provide citizens universal coverage for medical services—but not in the United States, where tens of millions of people remain without health insurance and costs far exceed spending in any other country. Aerial … READ MORE

The tale of two Medicares: Canadian and American

Medicare for all — or the idea that every American should have some form of public health insurance — continues to forge its way into political debates. With such momentum, however, can come fear mongering and obstructionism. … READ MORE

Canadian patients should have online access to their medical records, some doctors say

‘You’re part of the care,’ says daughter who monitors her mom’s cancer treatment online. Yvonne Wright says online access to her mother’s test results as she undergoes cancer treatment is helpful and … READ MORE

Why can’t you access your health record online?

In recent years, more and more patients around the world are logging into their health records online—but few Canadians have access to this service. Letting patients read the doctor’s notes in The New York Times Wendy Glauser, … READ MORE

More health-care spending an expensive way to buy health

It’s budget season and provincial governments are continuing to spend more on healthcare than any other portfolio. For example, Alberta spends almost half its budget on health — an estimated $22 billion this year — which is more … READ MORE

In Ontario, new project will give providers and patients more access to health records

SPARK is designed to support innovators with market-ready or in-market digital health solutions. Currently, the SPARK pathway is for digital health innovators working with one or more Health Information Custodians (HICs). Innovators … READ MORE

Uninsured patients in Ontario: People get sicker, the system pays more

Patricia, left, a native of Guyana, says she feels “in control” since she started taking part in the Health With Dignity Program. She is speaking here with health coach Candace Crawford. Carlos Osorio, Toronto Star Dafna Izenberg, … READ MORE

Provincial health ministers support idea of national pharmacare

Goertzen says Manitoba wants plan to be defined, adequate, secure, and able to deal with inflation. Federal Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor speaks to reporters after meeting with provincial and territorial health ministers in … READ MORE

Premiers call for ‘voluntary’ pharmacare program funded by Ottawa

Quebec confirms it will opt out of federal drug plan, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball, left, made it clear at the premiers’ closing news conference Friday that if the federal government wants a national drug … READ MORE

Physicians urge Ottawa to pay another $21B over decade for seniors health care

Report comes ahead of the annual premiers’ Council of the Federation meeting. Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg, Ont., is shown on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017. Physicians are calling on the federal government to shell out … READ MORE

Pharmacare may appeal to premiers seeking consensus this week in NB

‘I’m confident that we’ll create a model that suits Canada,’ advisory council chair Eric Hoskins says. Former Ontario health minister Eric Hoskins was asked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to head a federal … READ MORE

How Canada is harming its most vulnerable citizens

The tangled web of disability governance and policy in Canada bodes poorly for Canadians with severe disabilities. National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier, standing during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament … READ MORE

No rational person would design a healthcare system this way

Justin Trudeau was a hard act to follow, but the next speaker defined the most important issue of the 2019 election. At the Liberal convention, Dr. Danielle Martin argued a national pharmacare program is long overdue: ‘No rational … READ MORE

Doctors in U.S. and Canada launch sweeping pharmaceutical reform proposal

Plan published today in the British Medical Journal outlines seven steps to slash costs, improve access, and increase safety of prescription medications in both nations. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. John Locher AP Photo in The … READ MORE

A plan to overhaul Canadian health care systems

What has gotten Canadian health systems to their present state will not be sufficient to get them where they need to go for the future. Making our pan-Canadian health organizations ‘Fit for Purpose.’ Health Minister Ginette … READ MORE

Paramedics road-testing portable health records system

Quebec-based company Prehos supplying digital system used in pilot project. Chief Michael Nolan demonstrates how paramedics will now be able to access patients’ medical information on an iPad. CBC CBC News Ottawa April 06, 2018 … READ MORE

Alberta spends $2.4M an hour on health care — how do we reduce spending?

In the coming year, the Alberta government will spend about $22 billion on health care. That’s almost 40 per cent of the provincial government’s total budget. Foothills Medical Centre, Alberta Health Services By Brooks … READ MORE

Want a healthier population? Spend less on health care and more on social services

Increased social spending was associated with health improvements at the population level, while health spending increases did not have the same effect, according to a large new Canadian study in the Canadian Medical Association … READ MORE

Health Canada approves Dysport to treat kids with cerebral palsy

Health Canada has approved Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) for the treatment of leg spasticity in children and teens ages 2 and older, including those with cerebral palsy. Six months ago, 13-year-old Georges Vermast rode her bike for the … READ MORE

We live with a cloud over our heads: Québecers say home care services fall short

Nearly 343,000 Québecers receive publicly-funded home care. Critics hope political parties commit to change. Rosalyn Williams-Ness has received home care services for the past 12 years. She says she lives with almost constant … READ MORE

Canada as single-payer exemplar for universal health care in the United States

A Borderline Option. Ambassador Bridge workers (from bottom left to right) Hector Renaud, (unknown), Earl Foley, Art Langois, and Louis Renaud in 1953, according to Louis Renaud. He says the man in the white shirt was another … READ MORE

Canada’s health-care wait times hit new record high, again

We finally did it last year. In 2016, we hit the 20-week mark for the average wait time for treatment by a specialist (across 12 medical specialities) after referral from a general practitioner. Canada’s national shame had reached a … READ MORE

Working with a scribe improves physician satisfaction

Working with a scribe significantly improves physicians’ overall satisfaction, satisfaction with chart quality and accuracy, and charting efficiency, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in the Annals of Family … READ MORE

How much does the ‘average’ Canadian pay for public health care?

About $5,789 per year — but it depends on what you think ‘average’ means. What you’ll have more trouble doing is deciding whether that spending represents a good value. National Post, Postmedia Richard Warnica, … READ MORE

Online doctor consultations take off in Canada

Questions raised over quality of consultations and universality principle. Virtual medical services that connect family physicians and patients with minor illnesses and injuries are popping up online in Canada, leading to questions … READ MORE

Bonjour-santé service asks court to stop health ministry audit

RAMQ investigating whether for-fee appointment booking service is against the law. An online service that finds clients a medical appointment within 48 hours for a fee has turned to Québec Superior Court to stop an audit by … READ MORE

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