Health Coalition wants clarity on Canada Health Act to protect patients
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
Coalition seeking health minister’s clarity to protect patients from unfair charges
“Why has the prime minister failed to work with Health Minister Holland to protect patients from unfair charges by for-profit corporations delivering virtual care, or nurse practitioners who have been given additional scope to practice but little public funding to do so? Is the Liberal government stalling because big business, telecom giants and insurance corporations are lobbying to prevent the government from doing as it promised to protect patients?” said Steve Staples, Policy Director of the Canadian Health Coalition, to the Toronto Star, November 20, 2024
Union president calls for safe nurse-patient ratios
“To truly address the staffing crisis, Canada must take a leadership role in implementing sustainable solutions to the poor working conditions and poor staffing models pushing nurses out of the profession. . .The nursing crisis is daunting, but it is far from insurmountable. The evidence is clear: safe nurse-patient ratios improve working conditions, nurse retention and, critically, patient care,” wrote Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, in iPolitics, November 20, 2024
Health care worker says dismantling Alberta Health Services will negatively impact patient care
“Once you silo health care, it creates more red tape, and it’s more difficult to actually have continuity of care. . .(last year the Alberta’s United Conservative government announced it would be restructuring health care in the province). . .How does it work if we have to discharge you and you want home care or home physio? How is that going to work so you’re not falling through the cracks?” said ‘Elizabeth’ to Global News, November 25, 2024
Privatization marching on in Ontario
“Ontarians will be spending more for surgeries than they need to. . . I think they think about this (health care) as a market, not a service,” said Michael Hurley, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, regarding the six-story Schroeder Centre and how it would entice staff from nearby hospitals to work for a higher salary, worsening shortages and wait times at those hospitals to YorkRegion.com, November 25, 2024.
Private MRI scan left reporter confused about his liver
“My experience getting a private MRI scan left me confused. I couldn’t figure out who was responsible for what, or what regulations govern this whole new private health-care sector. When I asked the college and the province who is ensuring private health-care clinics like Whole Body MRI are following the rules, they each pointed a finger at the other. . .The college told me that licensing considerations for MRI services are overseen by the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health told me that it does not regulate uninsured procedures, like private-pay full-body MRI scans, and that it is the college’s role to set out expectations for the conduct of physicians, including the provision of these types of services,” said journalist Kenyon Wallace in the Toronto Star, November 16, 2024
Social issues spilling over into busy emergency departments
“It’s the reality of our times. . .The ER is open 24-7, it’s a safe place to go to get a meal, to get warm and, if necessary, to find a place to sleep if there is nowhere else to go. . . We need an increase in places to go where they can be fed and warmed — they need safe places to stay . . . here’s more and more chaos in our ERs. Nursing staff, security and physicians do the best they can,” said Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, to Winnipeg Free Press, November 25, 2024
Canadians need certainty about when universal access to prescription drugs will become reality
“As policymakers work toward implementing pharmacare, we hope our findings will inform public drug coverage plans and reduce cost barriers. This is especially urgent as financial and demographic pressures continue to challenge Canada’s healthcare system,” said author Dr. Nevena Rebić of a community health survey published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal to UBC News, November 26, 2024
Indigenous-owned corporation teams with Sun Life Financial for clients of Canadian Dental Care Plan
“This is one of those strategic partnerships. Yes, the federal government was looking to support Indigenous communities, but this is part of our DNA. It was a perfect opportunity for us . . . 20 years ago, we would not even be having these conversations and it is a hopeful sign that we are having them now,” said Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak to Winnipeg Free Press, November 22, 2024
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his dangerous ideas for public health care
“The main goal Kennedy has trumpeted recently is to ‘Make America healthy again’. At face value, it’s a noble aim. That’s the essence of public health: how to reduce risk factors for disease and mortality at a population level and improve the quality of health and wellbeing. But behind this slogan comes a darker, conspiracy-laden agenda. As someone who has spent a lot of time researching global public health, these are the positions I believe could be the most dangerous,” wrote Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, in The Guardian, November 17, 2024
Uh-oh – Is Artificial Intelligence entering the health care system?
“I don’t think that patients or clinicians are ready to take humans out of the loop or let AI make critical decisions or be, you know, driving those decisions without human oversight . . .I see AI in health becoming part of the standard way that we take care of patients, and I think that it won’t be long in the future where patients themselves are wanting to receive care that’s AI informed,” said Dr. Vincent Liu, chief data officer, Permanente Medical Group and senior research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in California, to CBC News, November 23, 2024
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