Canada can end chronic homelessness, it’s a health issue
TORONTO, ONT.—We have the knowledge, the evidence, and the strategies to improve the plight of those who fall between the cracks and stay there for long periods of time. But every night, the shelters continue to fill up, and every day, the many people who are homeless on our streets watch as we pass […]
Standardize clinical trials to gain global attraction, says Senate committee
The Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology is calling on the federal government to standardize ethics reviews and establish a national framework for clinical trials in Canada in order boost its international appeal, but while the committee’s recommendations to increase clinical trial activity in Canada have been well-received by some academics, Urszula […]
Obesity costs Ontario taxpayers an estimated $2.2-billion and $2.5-billion each year, says Ontario Medical Association
An estimated one-quarter of Canadians is obese, and with high fat, sugary and processed foods easily available, governments around the world are searching for the right approach to encourage healthy eating. Some groups are advocating for government regulation of industry, while others are calling on the implementation of “fat taxes,” but Harvey Anderson, director […]
Canadian health-care innovations in the 21st Century
Many innovative ideas and practices are emerging to address healthcare challenges today. This includes technological innovation, e-health, and tele-robotics, to name a few. These innovative practices are found in local hospitals, long-term care facilities, universities, and in the ranks of health-care providers and patients. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Health passed […]
Independent research questions hospital mortality stats
Recently-published independent research has called into question the integrity of an index for measuring the quality of care in Canadian hospitals, but the Canadian Institute for Health Information says that there’s been no evidence of statistical manipulation since it began publicly releasing the data in 2007. The research, published on the British Medical Journal’s […]
Stigma around end-of-life planning contributes to later life pain
Palliative care advocates are unsurprised by recent studies confirming the importance of advance care planning and say that federal and provincial health agencies have a role in raising public awareness around end-of-life care. A study recently published in the U.S. Journal of Clinical Oncology is the latest research to confirm that advanced discussions on […]
Banning generic version of OxyContin isn’t ‘true solution,’ experts say
Provincial calls for a federal ban on generic versions of the pain-reliever pill OxyContin is not a “true solution” to opioid drug abuse, say health experts who want the federal government to take on a “broader approach” to stemming addiction in Canada. “We don’t see prohibition as a true solution in this case. What […]
Med students call for federal action on health human resources management
Despite a record number of practising physicians, Canadians continue to face lengthy wait times, 15 per cent don’t have a family doctor, and a growing number of recently-trained specialists are facing unemployment. Medical students are the latest group to call on the feds to step up and play a leadership role in managing Canada’s […]
Playing violin for your health; lifestyle changes work when you choose something you love
CALGARY, ALTA.—Now that we’ve kicked off a new year, not a day passes without some news outlet asking me for tips on healthy living. What do I need to eat more (or less) of? What type of exercise is best and how many minutes a day do I need? My answer generally comes down […]
Baby boomers looking to right public health care, not drain it
CALGARY, ALTA.—Should we baby boomers be feeling guilty now that everyone else seems to have finally clued in to the developed world’s worst-kept secret: there are lots of us, we didn’t have enough children of our own to replenish the taxpayer base, and we didn’t contribute enough in taxes to cover our future health […]
