Class-action lawsuit against Ontario long-term care minister to proceed
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
Court allows class-action suit against Ontario long-term care minister
“To be sure, the appellants’ attempt to distinguish the mandate of the Ministry of Long-Term Care in this manner, and thereby establish a duty of care in favour of the residents of LTC homes, may well not prevail at an adjudication on the merits… But it would be inappropriate at this stage to definitively conclude that the appellants’ argument (will) fail,” said an Ontario Appeal Court ruling, upholding a Superior Court decision to Global News, February 6, 2024
Government has three weeks to deliver on pharmacare
“I will make it clear to prime minister that he has three weeks left to deliver on Pharmacare . . . If (they) don’t deliver, they will have walked away from the (Supply and Confidence Agreement) deal,” said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in a press conference aired on CPAC, February 5, 2024
Manulife backs away from Loblaws exclusive drug deal (for now)
“Normally, this kind of stuff is always under the radar and basically nobody’s asking questions about this. . .I am not surprised that with media coverage, the insurance company changed its decision because they were looking very bad in doing something like this,” said Marc-André Gagnon, Carleton University professor and ally of the Canadian Health Coalition, Toronto Star, February 6, 2024
Restrictions on health and well-being of Alberta trans youth dangerous says LBGTQ community
“We’re talking about the smallest segment of the population, and also the most vulnerable, the most suicidal – the group of people most represented who houseless and homeless,” said April Friesen, co-founder of the Trans Equality Society of Alberta, to the Toronto Star, February 2, 2024
Premier Smith stoking fears say doctors
Dr. Tehseen Ladha, a pediatrician in Edmonton, said Smith is stoking fears by inferring as “dangerous” the therapies that are offered after extensive consultations among pediatricians, mental health experts and endocrinologists, sometimes over several years.
“Firstly, (Premier Danielle Smith) doesn’t have the medical expertise to be able to make that decision about whether gender-affirming care is appropriate. Secondly, calling some of these things irreversible or harmful is simply false . . .These therapies that we’re offering below the age of 18 are reversible. Hormone therapy is reversible. It’s being framed as something that is harmful, when in fact, in my clinical experience, it has been quite affirming and positive for youth and children dealing with these issues,” said Dr. Tehseen Ladha, Edmonton pediatrician, to The Canadian Press, February 2, 2024
Health Minister recognizes Black History Month
“In addition to supporting Black excellence in health research, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is . . .co-developing an anti-racism action plan with health researchers who have been impacted by racism. We are working with partners to address systemic racism across all aspects of CIHR’s health research funding system and achieve a more equitable, diverse and inclusive research enterprise in Canada,” said Federal Health Minister Mark Holland to MirageNews, February 2, 2024
“Hunger games” in health care says SooToday letter-writer following cuts to patient roster
“While it’s tragic that 10,000 Group Health Centre patients are about to lose their family doctor, I have chatted with other locals who have been without a family doctor for many years, one person more than 20 years! There’s something wrong with a system where some people have gone two decades doctor-less while others seem to get a new doctor relatively quickly. Who’s most deserving to skip to the head of the queue? The person who’s been doctor-less longest, the person who’s been at a given practice the longest, or the one with the worst health problems? This all very Hunger Games-ish. ‘May the odds be ever in your favour’. We are now fighting amongst ourselves about who is most worthy because a series of provincial governments have made bad decisions. . . Finally, I see people calling for privatized healthcare, but this is also magical thinking. No country has ever attempted to add a privatized healthcare system at a time with huge shortages of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers. Because of this shortage, a private system will hasten the demise of public healthcare as private facilities that can pay better thanks to rich owners poach doctors and staff,” wrote Abigail Obenchain, in SooToday, February 5, 2024 (see last week’s Health files on Sault Ste. Marie Health Centre)
Canadians over 72 now eligible to apply for federal dental program
“Are (patients) going to be to go to any dentist and access this program? Is it going to be simple for not just the patient, but also the dentist? . . .You hear about health-care burnout and dentistry is not immune to this. So who’s going to be doing all that if there is an extra administration burden,” said Dr. Brock Nicolucci, president, Ontario Dental Association, to the Toronto Star, February 1, 2024
Meanwhile, seniors are unsure about dental program rules – can you drop your bad private plan for the federal program?
“It really makes me think, what am I going to do? Four thousand dollars is a lot to be out of pocket . . .I don’t think it’s fair because, if you’re having next to nothing in coverage, it’s just taking a whole section of people and saying, ‘We don’t care.’” — St. Thomas, ON, retiree Doug Carter, who has a small amount of dental coverage through his former employer, a plan that won’t cover a tooth replacement, to CBC News, February 6, 2024
Accountability in long-term care – long past time for federal government to act
“It is impossible for provincial/territorial residents to hold their governments accountable for their responsibilities in long-term care if the data available are biased, and the most important kinds of data are completely absent. . . We take for granted in other areas, such as GDP, unemployment and inflation, that there is ample underlying data enabling a dissection of the observed trends. We deserve the same for long-term-care homes,” said Michael Wolfson, Phd, former assistant chief statistician at Statistics Canada, co-author of Repair and Recovery in Long Term Care, to the Toronto Star, February 5, 2024
Strike vote by Dynacare lab-tech workers in Ontario
“Our members have held strong and are determined to achieve a solid first collective agreement that reflects the important nature of their work, the education and experience they bring to their jobs, and their vital role in providing quality healthcare services to our communities,” said Kelly Tosato, Secretary-Treasurer of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 175, in a press statement in Global News, February 5, 2024
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