Opinion
Crisis underscores that health workers are backbone of health system
By Ivy Bourgeault, Sarah Simkin, Caroline Chamberland-Rowe Apr 7, 2020
Responding to this crisis will require shifting tasks and leveraging the full scope of skills available within the health workforce. These innovations are often employed in low resource settings, out of necessity, but even high-income countries are quickly shifting tasks and redeploying available human resources.
Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam and her deputy, Howard Njoo, address reporters during a daily news briefing. With better data infrastructure and co-ordinated health workforce planning, we could proactively address inadequacies in the system and develop the flexibility necessary for the workforce to respond effectively to pandemic situations, say investigators with the Canadian Health Workforce Network and the University of Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Across the world, members of the public are clapping from their doorways and balconies to show their appreciation of health workers. It is becoming clearer than ever that our health system is largely our health workers.
Related Stories
Explore, analyze, understand
Inside Ottawa Directory – 2020 Edition
The handy reference guide includes: riding profiles, MPs by province, MP contact details, both Hill and constituency and more.
Get the book
The handy reference guide includes: riding profiles, MPs by province, MP contact details, both Hill and constituency and more.
Get the book
You Might Be From Canada If…
You Might Be From Canada If . . . is a delightful, illustrated romp through this country as it celebrates its 150th birthday.
Get the book
You Might Be From Canada If . . . is a delightful, illustrated romp through this country as it celebrates its 150th birthday.
Get the book
Inside Ottawa Directory – 2019 Edition
The handy reference guide includes: riding profiles, MPs by province, MP contact details, both Hill and constituency and more.
Get the book
The handy reference guide includes: riding profiles, MPs by province, MP contact details, both Hill and constituency and more.
Get the book
Related Policy Briefings
Agriculture Policy Briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Environment
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Cannabis
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Politics This Morning
Your email has been added. An email has been sent to your address, please click the link inside of it to confirm your subscription.
Canada should re-examine U.S. relations, ‘pursue its own future’ in face of Trump’s pandemic response, say foreign policy and trade experts
‘America is putting itself first, which is natural. Why shouldn’t we behave in the same way?’ says Carleton U’s David Carment. A fall federal election is ‘a real possibility,’ and a ‘sweet spot’ for Liberals to win a majority, say pollsters
Liberal MPs have recently held discussions in caucus meetings about nomination rules for incumbent MPs for the next election, Liberal MP Ken Hardie confirmed to The Hill Times last week.Trudeau condemns violence at anti-racism protests in Montreal, says it detracts from ‘very real issues’ country faces
'I hear you when you say you are anxious and angry, and you say this brings back painful experiences of racism that you’ve faced. I want you to know that I’m listening,' says the prime minister.Time for foreign policy update to prepare Canada for post-pandemic world, say some experts
The rules-based international order as it once was 'no longer exists,' says Canadian International Council president Ben Rowswell. Liberals preparing legislation to extend deadlines for courts, security reviews and more amid pandemic
The law could give Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains more time to give notice of a national security review to a foreign company trying to take over a Canadian business.Liberal MP Marie-France Lalonde, a former retirement home operator, joins call for national standards and more money for long-term care
‘We all knew we needed more money into this system. Now the focus should be that.’‘It’s been better than nothing at all’: MPs settle into Zoom sittings, though some say more room for increased oversight
While some MPs say the debate in the virtual sittings is 'livelier,' and heckling has diminished, one MP notes the theatrics of Parliament haven’t completely been shaken off. Despite limited leverage, Canada has duty to mount full-throated condemnation of China’s national security law, say experts, Parliamentarians
'We can’t lose sight of the fact that Hong Kong has been a fabric of Canada, and we owe it to Hong Kongers to be very public about our opposition to what is taking place,' says Sen. Jim Munson.U.S. academic who saw Trump victory in 2016 says president’s re-election bid in serious trouble
‘The Radical Left Lamestream Media, together with their partner, the Do Nothing Democrats, are trying to spread a new narrative that President Trump was slow in reacting to Covid 19,’ says U.S. President Donald Trump in a tweet.Trending Stories
