Health negotiations need to go beyond money squabbling
Canadians tuned out the recent federal-provincial meetings on health care, dismissing them as just another spat over money. Instead of a national agreement, the process led to bilateral agreements with some provinces and suggestions that the discussion needs to move to the first ministers’ table. Without a fundamentally different approach, Canadians won’t be any better […]
Ottawa needs to invite indigenous people to the table to make strides on improving health care: advocates
The federal government must include indigenous people in discussions on improving health care, including ongoing talks with the provinces and territories about long-term funding, to make substantial progress on narrowing the gaping divide in health outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous communities, say advocates. Dr. Granger Avery, president of the Canadian Medical Association, which advocates for the […]
Time to keep children and youth active, healthy and safe
It’s always hard to read the headlines. “Toddler, 2, drowns in back-yard pool,” “Mother and two kids killed in fiery crash,” or “Schoolgirl, 9, struck by car on her way to school.” The media coverage is there, but the will to do something about children’s right to safety is not. Childhood injuries cost all of us. In […]
Health
B.C. MPs heartbroken over opioid crisis
MPs representing ridings most heavily affected by the opioid crisis in Western Canada say seeing their communities and constituents struggle with hardship, addiction, and, increasingly, death, is heartbreaking. The Hill Times spoke to a number of MPs dealing firsthand with the crisis as it grips their communities. The conversations were emotional, at times exasperated and […]
Poor IP rights protections hurt patients, economy
VANCOUVER, B.C. / Troy Media/ – As the old adage states, “You’ll be known by the company you keep.” As such, the implications for Canada’s biopharmaceutical sector are rather dismal. While an extensive body of evidence demonstrates that patents and other intellectual property protections are critical to the future of innovation and the development of […]
Divide and conquer: How the feds split the provinces in health talks
The Prime Minister’s Office had decided weeks before a Dec. 19 meeting between Finance Minister Bill Morneau (Toronto Centre, Ont.) and his provincial and territorial counterparts that it had a “high tolerance for failure” of the talks towards a Canada-wide health agreement, according to sources in the health community close to the discussions. The provinces […]
Trump aside, Canada should reject trade deals that put drugs out of reach
Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and declared his intention to renegotiate NAFTA. But as some try to revive the TPP, and trade talks between Ottawa and Washington heat up, Canada should walk away from any deal that perpetuates inadequate, inequitable access to life-saving medicines, here or globally. NAFTA’s […]
Canada needs a strategy to improve prescription drug safety for seniors
Four years ago, at age 84, my dad survived a severe stroke. The downside is that during his hospital stay, this otherwise fit person was put on a drug regimen and has been taking nine prescription drugs a day ever since. My dad’s experience with multiple drugs is not uncommon for his age group. Seniors […]
Funding community-based programs can help reduce male suicide
Jason was in grade five when he started having feelings for other boys. Because of those feelings he was called names, beaten up in school, and even sexually assaulted. Since high school, Jason has been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. He has also survived a suicide attempt. Through the […]
