Pharmacare

My fight for more home care is a fight for a lifetime of freedom

‘It’s incredibly difficult for me to live life to the fullest without 24-hour home care,’ writes Alex Lytwyn. Alex Lytwyn, who lives with cerebral palsy, says he tries to do daily tasks as independently as he can. … READ MORE

Capital funding of health care in Canada is critical, yet declined in last 20 years

Capital funding of health care, used to build new hospitals, redesign or upgrade existing facilities and invest in new technologies, has declined in Canada over the last 20 years, according to an analysis in CMAJ Canadian Medical … READ MORE

Once its greatest foes, doctors are embracing single-payer

When the American Medical Association — one of the nation’s most powerful health care groups — met in Chicago this June, its medical student caucus seized an opportunity for change. Doctors for the 99 Percent march from Zuccotti … 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

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

We’re on our own: Home health care workers report inadequate support from employers

Home health care work is not only physically demanding, but also emotionally taxing. Last station nursing home. Ulrich Joho photo, November 7, 2009. Flickr City University of New York September 4, 2018 Home care workers do an … 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

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

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

A lesson for Canada: Québec pharmacare system creates winners and losers

Québec spends $200 more per person than the rest of Canada to provide prescription drug coverage to everyone in the province, finds new research that could inform plans for a nationwide universal drug plan. Benny Lin, flickr … READ MORE

Publicly funding drugs for all Canadians could save over $4 billion a year

Universal public coverage of 117 essential medicines could address the needs of most Canadians for pharmaceutical drugs, and possibly save more than $4 billion a year, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical … READ MORE

Canada spends over $400 million on medicine that harms seniors

Canada spends more than $400 million annually on drugs prescribed to seniors even though the medicines should be avoided for older patients, according to new UBC research. PEI doctor warns about dangers of over-medication. Dr. Roland … READ MORE

New MS treatment could be too pricey

A new multiple sclerosis treatment capable of halting the disease’s advancement for 10 years is being reviewed by government to determine if it’ll receive B.C. PharmaCare coverage. A multiple sclerosis patient is seen with her … READ MORE