Opinion

Decolonizing sexual and reproductive health: A conversation led by the Period Priority Project

The Period Priority Project aims to breakdown and unpack the nuances of colonial period shame and start new conversations about reproductive justice.

Citizen engagement vital if we are to solve our primary-care crisis: OurCare Nova Scotia panelists

Nova Scotia’s primary health care is in crisis. The OurCare Panel in Nova Scotia came up with a series of recommendations on how to fix it.

Pharmacist prescribers fill important gaps in the Canadian healthcare system

Pharmacist prescribing provides a win-win outcome for patients, health-care professionals and the health-care system as a whole.

‘We’re not going to silently suffer through these symptoms’: Breaking the silence and stigma around menopause

There are significant gaps in menopause care across the country. But there are things we can do to change that. Women don't have to suffer through these symptoms and live a lesser quality of life.

Will we let the fires of 2023 keep burning?

In our safe country, we “react” to disasters like the forest fires or flooding with exorbitant efforts and resources after the crises. But we also lose track of key commitments to civil society and human progress.

Women’s health in the workplace. Here’s why businesses should care.

Women’s health is not only a matter of personal well-being but also a business imperative. We need approaches to bridge the women’s health gap and build inclusive workplaces.

We need to talk about public and private health care in Canada

With the system under significant strain, we have to re-examine how we fund and deliver health-care services. What this means for Canada's public health-care system is yet to be seen.

Navigating the digital sea of beauty: Empowering Canadians through media literacy for positive body image and public health

Body-image concerns have soared with the constant exposure to digitally altered and idealized portrayals of beauty. Media literacy is a critical tool in dismantling the harmful impact of such imagery and thoughts.

Why not educate the person experiencing pain? Improving opioid prescribing for youth in hospital settings

Youth are rarely educated on safe and effective opioid use when they're discharged from hospital. A new set of educational materials made by Solutions for Kids in Pain is hoping to change that.

Why Canada must amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

MAiD is currently available for those with mental illness. But there are treatment options that exist that have yet to be legalized. It's time to increase access to psychedelic-assisted therapies.

Access denied: Pandemic highlighted issues in accessing sexual and reproductive health for persons with disabilities

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a number of people with disabilities missing health-care appointments due largely to health and safety concerns on transit. But there are measures we can take to provide accessible, disability-affirming care.

End-of-life care – Infusing the ‘person’ back into the ‘patient’

At the end of life, we are at risk of losing our sense of self because with the diagnosis of an illness, we begin a problematic health-care journey at a time when the preservation of “me” is so very important.

Safeguarding our children: Vaccination’s crucial role in navigating the coming school year

As we embark on the new school year, the lessons we have learned from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic serve as our compass, guiding us toward effective strategies while helping us discern the ones that fall short.

Reducing opioid use for back, neck and shoulder pain starts with interprofessional collaboration

The COVID-19 pandemic has added fuel to the opioid crisis, particularly in treating chronic back pain. But there are several ways to address musculoskeletal pain that don't require medication.

The iDOCTOR will see you now

Patients without a family doctor can see a doctor virtually through artificial intelligence or non-family doctors apps run by private, for-profit corporations. But iDOCTOR will be of limited value to a system already stretched thin.

Is bothsidesism killing us? (And why scientific consensus matters)

Our information ecosystem has become a massive false-balance machine. We need a more accurate representation of science and to correct misrepresentations wherever they emerge.

Helping youth harness the power of social media: Initiative teaches young Canadians how to create evidence-based health content

As online trends continue to perpetuate misinformation, these trends can lead to particularly harmful consequences in marginalized communities. A new program aims to improve online literacy among BIPOC youth.

Lives are at stake: Why is injury prevention an underfunded public health concern?

If we are truly invested in improving the health and wellness of Canadians, we must dedicate more public health resources to preventing injury instead of responding to it after the fact.

Lung-cancer screening – primum non nocere (first, do no harm)!

Lung cancer is the number one global killer among cancers. Early detection can help patients' chance of survival but current screening measures also come with mixed benefits and risks.

Fiscal management and Minden’s unprecedented Emergency Department closure

The closure of the Minden ED has become a rallying point for us to address broader issues affecting health-care systems. Minden’s experience must serve as a nationwide warning: review the financial management and board governance of your local health-care systems.