Pharma

309 articles
by Edward Xie

Move fast and fix things: Canada can’t afford pharmacare delays

A limited national pharmacare plan passed into law recently, but so far it is only a small step toward universal, comprehensive, public drug coverage.

by Laurie Proulx Zal Press Marney Paradis Dawn Richards Linda Wilhelm Maureen Smith

Where are the patient voices in Canada’s pharmaceutical system?

While federal health priorities focus on areas such as pharmaceutical use, data infrastructure and connected care, the central priority – patients’ experiences and needs – remains neglected.

by Victoria Cook Aleah Gustafson Samira Jeimy

Food oral immunotherapy through a parent’s lens: A paradigm shift in food allergy management

A case study highlights the importance of the patient’s perspective in navigating food allergies and of advocating for yourself in the face of scarce resources.

by Jason Weida

Drug importation plan is a ‘win-win,’ claims Florida health official

Florida’s plan is a win-win for both Canada and Florida. It will relieve pressure on an already overburdened government health-care system, and bring millions of dollars in new business to Canada.

by Claire Healey Elly Kühne Francesca Lee Samuel Retta

Florida’s ‘quick fix’: Instead of looking to Canada for cheaper drugs, U.S. should regulate its own prices

We appreciate that Americans need access to affordable drugs. But taking them from Canada is not a fair, sustainable or equitable solution.

by Amir Imani 

Vanessa’s Law expansion puts natural health products in their place

Vanessa’s Law,” mandates hospitals to report serious adverse events that may have originated from medications and medical devices. This year it was expanded to include Natural Health Products, a move that should have been made long ago.

by Tania Di Renna Rachael Bosma

There is no quick fix for chronic pain but there is a path forward

Patients need to be at the centre of their own care, and they need to manage their pain for what it is, a chronic disease. The time to reimagine chronic pain care is now – we can’t afford not to and the millions of suffering Canadians can’t afford to wait.

by Sangeetha Nadarajah

Gummies for pain relief? Using cannabis while on prescription drugs risky for seniors

Despite their widespread use, you may want to think twice before giving grandma cannabis gummies for her knee pain.

by Nickrooz Grami

Do doctors know enough about the commercial determinants of health?

Private sector activities have a real impact on people's health. We need to promote healthy cross-industry regulation and scrutinize the role that private interests play in the health-policy arena to help safeguard the health of patients.

by Mary Sco.

Mushrooms, nuts and collard greens: Nutrition and how to lower the odds of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the product of many factors over a lifetime. While some of those factors are out of our control, others like diet offer opportunities to mitigate risk.

by Maddi Dellplain

Should “magic mushrooms” be legalized? Experts weigh in

Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in "magic mushrooms", is making waves for its therapeutic benefits in treating psychiatric conditions like major depressive disorder and end-of-life anxiety. But does that mean it should be legalized? We asked a panel of experts to weigh in.

by Marwah Younis Peter Zhang

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.

by Leah Geller

Muscle-building supplements are hugely popular with Canadian boys and young men: That’s a problem

The portrayal of muscular male bodies is a new but increasingly common phenomenon driving demand for potentially harmful muscle-building supplements. Young people in particular are at risk.

by Maddi Dellplain

From diabetes medication to weight-loss wonder drug: Ozempic’s popularity raises big questions

Ozempic has raised a lot of questions. We asked a panel of experts what are the most important factors to consider when prescribing Ozempic for weight loss.

by Megan Werger

Postpartum depression isn’t the biggest issue for mothers. Postpartum anxiety is

Postpartum anxiety is more than three times more prevalent than postpartum depression yet we hear about it far less often.

by Alykhan Abdulla

Sometimes the truth is unbearable

The health-care system is failing Canadians with lethal consequences. Policymakers need to make urgent changes now to address delays in access to care.

by Alika Lafontaine

The case for a pan-Canadian licensure model

Canada’s workforce remains in crisis. With hospital overcrowding and staff shortages putting EDs at risk, pan-Canadian licensure is a crucial part of any plan to help ease the pressure.

by Rebecca Redmond

The real cost of not adopting universal pharmacare is Canadian lives

Pharmacare has not yet been implemented and the pandemic – and the supply and confidence agreement – only further entrenched Big Pharma’s power in Ottawa. But patients need access to life-saving medications.

by Juanne Nancarrow Clarke

‘Bogus contract’ creating gulf between doctors, patients

There are unhealthy expectations built into the "bogus contract" between doctors and patients that overemphasize the power of medicine. At the same time, we are ignoring the relative importance of the precursors to good health.

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