Pharmacare tops parliamentary agenda
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
5 weeks till parliament breaks for the summer: Top of the legislative list is pharmacare
“We want to get it through, we want to get those agreements signed, we want people to start getting that help. It’s very much a Jagmeet Singh, Pierre Poilievre confrontation that Jagmeet Singh is going to win, because people need the supports, and the NDP is absolutely determined that we push through the blocking that Pierre Poilievre has put up,” said NDP Health Critic Peter Julian MP, CTV News, May 20, 2024. Which top bills does Trudeau want to pass before summer? | CTV News
How to watch, live:
The Pharmacare Bill C-64 will be considered by the Standing Committee on Health (HESA) on Thursday May 23, 3:30 PM – 8:30 PM, and Friday, May 24, 12:00 PM ET – 5:00 PM ET
The Canadian Health Coalition and others will appear on Thursday, May 23 2024 at 5:15 PM.
Live stream: https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony
Get pharmacare passed says Linda Silas to all politicians
“As Bill C-64, An Act Respecting Pharmacare, moves through Parliament, I want all of you to think about the Canadian patients who urgently need free access to birth control and life-saving diabetes medications. . . politics should not be at play here. We cannot prolong the wait of those who desperately need these medications. We know millions of people in Canada struggle to afford their prescriptions. We know that a vast majority of Canadians overwhelmingly support the implementation of a universal, comprehensive, public and single-payer pharmacare program. We know that this bill represents a vital first step towards making that program a reality. . .Your job is to protect and help build a public health care system that works for all people. Nurses across the country are doing their part, so put aside partisanship and let us make Pharmacare a reality,” wrote Linda Silas, president Canadian Federation of Nurses Union, in an open letter published by iPolitics, May 20, 2024. Nurses’ message to Parliamentarians on Pharmacare: Vote yes on Bill C-64 | iPolitics
REPORT: The growing surge of private health care
“Working as a journalist covering health care in both Canada and the United States, I’ve always enjoyed the fact that when writing in this country, I’ve rarely had to be a business reporter as well. Covering health in Canada has meant focusing on people, outcomes, systems and laws. It was powerful to write stories, even heartbreaking ones, about Canadian health care . . .equity and accessibility. There was a feeling of shared investment in protecting the public system. In the U.S., business interests are in play, and financial toxicity—the stress of paying for care—is a major theme when covering it. . .All that is changing. . .And as the gaps in care have widened, the private sector has stepped in to fill them, steadily and stealthily pushing the boundaries of what’s permissible in Canada,” wrote journalist Christina Frangou, Maclean’s Magazine, May 16, 2024, to be published in June issue. Private Health Care Is Here – Macleans.ca
Nurse Carla Compton running in June 18 Manitoba byelection to replace former premier
“It’s an opportunity for me to evolve in my practice and how I can really help more people. . .I feel I have the time, I have the energy and I have the commitment and the desire to show up for the constituents of Tuxedo and to show up at the government’s table on their behalf. . .Being of service for others, that’s a main motivator for me. . .I watched the last government’s cuts to health care hurt my patients and drive my colleagues out of the system. I watched (former premier) Heather Stefanson run a campaign right here in this community that had people shaking their heads. That kind of division and anger — that’s not who we are,” said NDP candidate Carla Compton, Winnipeg Free Press, May 21, 2024. Winnipeg Free Press
Health care workforce predictions need serious adjustments
“Current training and deployment approaches are too static and rigid to keep up to the pace of change. They are hardly a sound foundation on which to create the workforce of tomorrow. Projecting requirements 10 years out is a mug’s game. . .It’s time to play a better one that acknowledges uncertainty as the new normal, and agility and lifelong learning as the indispensable new skills,” wrote Steven Lewis, health policy analyst andadjunct professor of health policy at Simon Fraser University, Saskatoon Star Phoenix, May 17, 2024. Lewis: Here’s why health-care workforce plans in Canada always fail | The Star Phoenix
Are Quebec health care workers migrating to the private sector?
“We have a public discourse that is very focused on the fact that we have a shortage of manpower in health and social services, and this is often presented as an indisputable fact . . .But when you analyze the data, it’s more complex than you think,” said Anne Plourde, researcher with Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques (IRIS), CTV/The Canadian Press, May 21, 2024. https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebec-has-more-health-care-workers-per-capita-than-30-years-ago-iris-1.6894357
Overcoming colonial past through nursing
“What we’re trying to do is… to rewrite nursing back into health care [and] into the history . . .Nurses are always at the bedside, nurses are always in the home, but we don’t find our nursing leaders at those decision-making tables where they really need to be to help systems transformation. (Nurses) understand the significance of working with the people. . . We know how to work with communities, we know how to work with populations, but we’re never brought to that table to help facilitate that.” —said Lisa Bourque Bearskin of Beaver Lake Cree Nation, associate professor for the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria, Victoria Times-Colonist, May 20, 2024. https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/two-indigenous-nurses-pave-the-way-to-overcoming-a-colonial-past-to-lead-in-health-care-8770083#google_vignette
CUPE Saskatchewan tells health minister to stop disrespecting health care workers
“At our meeting mere weeks ago, we shared significant concerns about health care provider working conditions, the exodus of health care workers from our health system and the inability for them to keep up with the cost-of-living. It is frustrating that you do not appear to have heard these concerns, as you are now writing letters to our members suggesting that affordability measures dating back to 2007 and a budget decision to not further hike taxes on Saskatchewan people somehow helps people who are struggling today. . . Rather than penning letters that minimize and trivialize the concerns of those health workers writing to you for help, I suggest your government finally develop a plan to retain Saskatchewan health care workers . . .,” wrote Bashir Jalloh, president Local 5430, Canadian Union of Public Employees, in a letter to SK Health Minister Everett Hindley, May 16, 2024. letter_e._hindley_cost_of_living_2024-05-16.pdf (cupe.ca)
Most people ‘have no clue’ what refugees face to get care, says advocate
“Most people don’t know what refugees go through. They have no clue. . .You will never be able to present my challenges the way I would present them. We need people to tell these stories, to collaborate with these marginalized groups and also hear their voices,” said Birgit Umaigba, RN, CBC News, May 18, 2024. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/refugee-health-symposium-1.7206640
NB premier accused of using taxpayer dollars on election rhetoric, including health care
“We have a premier that won’t even deny that he used political staff and taxpayer dollars to put out campaign material under the government of New Brunswick’s brand,” said NB Liberal Leader Susan Holt, CBC News, May 17, 2024. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/liberals-criticize-pc-partisan-party-ads-healthcare-1.7206980
