Public Health

How should we handle the toxic drug-supply crisis? Experts weigh in.

While political debates have muddied the water on effective policy options to address toxic drug deaths, we asked a panel of experts what they see as the best path forward to address the ongoing crisis.

Nurses know the ‘Your Health Act’ is anything but good for your health

Bill 60 has alarmed and horrified Ontario nurses and other health-care providers. Allowing private companies to profit from people’s health-care needs will not solve the staffing crisis, it will make it worse.

Ontario’s rural towns in danger of losing access to health care as family doctors near retirement

Aging family doctors in Ontario’s smaller towns present a significant challenge to health-care access. The disproportionate distribution of doctors over age 65 in rural Ontario raises concerns about future shortages as these practitioners approach retirement age.

Lessons from Marathon: How to rebuild a broken local health-care system

What happens when small health-care systems in rural communities begin to unravel? What does it take to rebuild them when they reach a breaking point? We can look to the experience of the community of Marathon in 1996 for a glimpse of the challenge. 

Finding your energy envelope: Long COVID patients urged to ‘pace’ themselves back to health

For many long COVID patients, returning to activity can cause debilitating "crashes." But symptom management techniques like pacing can offer relief and may even help some patients slowly recover.

Battles are won in the trenches: Front-line health professionals must have the power to adapt

Generals may lead wars, but battles are won in the trenches. Now, more than ever, this same doctrine must be applied to our medical professionals on the front lines.

Trust us to make our own decisions about breast-cancer screenings

The new U.S. guidance on breast-cancer screening shouldn’t be controversial or a “both sides” issue in Canada. It should serve as a model for the change we need.

What Canada can learn about MAiD for mental illness from Belgium and the Netherlands

Canadians are clearly divided on MAiD based solely on mental illness. From federal laws and legal cases to medical guidelines and published studies in Belgium and the Netherlands, we can make more informed decisions regarding MAiD eligibility for psychiatric patients.

What is the price of human life? Cutting off uninsured is ‘irresponsible’

We strongly recommend that the Ontario government reverse its decision to eliminate coverage for medically necessary services for uninsured individuals.

Services de première ligne et équité en santé à l’ère numérique : défis et opportunités

Bien que les soins de santé au Canada soient publics, les individus à faible revenu rencontrent trop souvent des obstacles pour accéder aux services de santé, ce qui nuit à leur santé.

Food prescriptions – a short-sighted response to food insecurity

Food insecurity can increase the risk of a number of adverse health outcomes. Food-prescription programs are one way that health-care providers are trying to mitigate the hardships they witness, but it's barely scratching the surface.

Episode 61 – Vaccination

The wellness profiteers of virtual health care

The virtual care industry has boomed in part due to the decline of primary care. But with it has come a host of wellness scams blurring the lines between evidence-based and unproven health-care remedies.

Uninsured health cuts and pregnancy: Why all Canadians should care

Many of the funding cuts to the uninsured will impact pregnant people. These health cuts are costly - not just to the burdens of the health-care system, but to our sense of humanity and fundamental Canadian values.

What will happen to Ontario’s uninsured? Experts weigh in

Adding to the list of lifted pandemic policies, Ontario will no longer cover the cost hospital services and physicians fees for the previously uninsured. Without OHIP for these groups, what can we expect to see? Is this the right move? Experts weigh in.

Regard sur les soins de première ligne au Québec: défis, solutions et priorités

Malgré certaines améliorations, des rapports publiés dans les dernières années indiquent que les soins de première ligne au Québec sont moins performants que ceux des autres provinces du Canada quant à l'accessibilité et la coordination.

Royal College’s deal with RBC an ethical lapse

The Royal College of Surgeons of Canada has long received large donations from Canada's biggest bank, RBC. But RBC is also the number one world financier of fossil fuels. One plastic surgeon reflects on the ethics of this relationship.

Saving our health-care system calls for bold leadership, not privatization

Ontario's health-care system is speeding toward privatization. But what the system needs is bold leadership and direct action, not more for-profit interventions.

‘I’d love to see us rethink what we’re doing’: A Q&A in family medicine with Tara Kiran

Dr. Tara Kiran sits down to talk about Indigenous health, all things family medicine and the nation-wide OurCare survey results.

Viral response to alcohol guidelines highlights need for harm-reduction messaging

Highlighting the harm reduction aspects of the new alcohol intake guidelines could go a long way in helping consumers make better choices and help bridge the gap between patients and clinicians.