Parliament approves Pharmacare Act – now up to the Senate to confirm
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
(Photo: Canadian Health Coalition’s Anne Lagacé Dowson attends a press conference on Parliament Hill with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and other public health care advocates. Source: CPAC)
Parliament approves Pharmacare Act, now up to the Senate to confirm
“The legislation would see the federal government offer first-payer coverage of some contraceptive and diabetes medications, and sets the stage for a future full-fledged universal pharmacare program. . . It’s not yet clear exactly what drugs will be covered, since they will be the subject of negotiations with provincial and territorial governments. . . .Once the bill is passed, Health Minister Mark Holland can begin those formal negotiations with provinces and territories to deliver the program” – said CTV News/ The Canadian Press, June 3, 2024
(Photo: Canadian Health Coalition joins public health care rally at Queens Park, Toronto, May 30, 2024)
Protect and improve public health care, say thousands of Ontarians at Queens Park rally
“The health care system is being really driven into the ground . . . We’re seeing whole hospitals closing down . . . We’re seeing . . . people who can’t get a family doctor and (the Ontario) government is (allowing) for-profit primary care to replace it where people have to pay.” – said Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, CBC News, May 30, 2024
Thousands march on Queen’s Park against health care privatization | CBC News
Indigenous wellness in NWT – comfort, safety, an end to racism
“As an Indigenous person growing up in the community of Yellowknife and the small community of Dettah, I often think of my grandmothers when they used to go to Stanton to access care and how uncomfortable they felt when they went there . . .I hope to see other grandmothers and grandfathers and people – my people, Indigenous people, Inuit people, Métis people – just feel comfortable and safe when they’re going to receive healthcare services. Everybody should be treated equally and we know that racism is in our healthcare system. We know that, we hear it.” – said Anastassia Judas, senior Indigenous patient advocate at Yellowknife’s Stanton Territorial Hospital, CABINRadio, May 29, 2024
Meet the people trying to improve Indigenous patients’ experiences (cabinradio.ca)
Private contract nursing service costing more, delivering less, says New Brunswick Auditor General
“. . .We noted risks to government due to poor contract development and oversight, payments for care services and related travel expenses were authorized without sufficient support. . .The contract management is quite scary. . . I bet a lot of people would love to get a contract like this and I would challenge government to do better, way better. This is not good. . . Contracts with private nursing agencies were not reflective of best practices and did not demonstrate value for money.´– said NB Auditor-General Paul Martin, The Globe and Mail, June 4, 2024
Federal dental program growing
“Children under 18 and people with disabilities will be eligible for the federal government’s dental plan starting June 27.”—said Minister of Citizens’ Services Terry Beech (adding the newly-eligible group means 1.2 million more Canadians will be able to access the program) CBC News, June 3, 2024
Centralized food for hospitals and long-term care – good idea but how does it taste?
“Just because it’s operationally, nutritionally, financially (feasible), if people aren’t going to eat it, there’s really no point in serving it.” — said Charity Hanslit, manager of operations, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s nutrition and food services facility, The Winnipeg Free Press, May 31, 2024
Tray delicious? – Winnipeg Free Press
Health care staff sound alarm about Nanaimo hospital
“Nanaimo is the second-fastest growing city in British Columbia and the fifth-fastest growing city in Canada. . . Patients are crowded in spaces converted as ‘Nightingale’ wards. Those are open rooms reminiscent of wards from the earliest 20th century . . .These care spaces have no privacy, and thus no dignity for patients, our sickest patients in the community. There are no barriers to prevent the spread of disease or even washrooms or windows and there’s no access to basic life-saving equipment such as oxygen or suction.”— said Dr. David Forrest, head of infectious disease and critical care at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Global News, May 29, 2024
‘Critical’: Doctors, health-care staff sound alarm about Nanaimo hospital – BC | Globalnews.ca
