Next step in universal drug coverage should prioritize ‘essential medicines,’ says pharmacare expert
Focusing on a list of the most commonly prescribed clinically-important drugs could save billions of dollars, both directly in terms of drug budget, and indirectly in terms of improvements in health care, says Steve Morgan, a professor of health policy at the University of British Columbia.
Patient involvement in pharmacare is critical to its success
Pharmacare is the most innovative and important health policy legislation in decades. To get it right, the federal government must directly engage with patients. Their expertise is crucial to pharmacare’s success.
Mental health and illnesses are a population health issue
The government has heeded the call for pharmacare and dental care, which fall outside the Canada Health Act. Mental health care is the obvious third leg of the stool.
Past time for health minister to hit reset button on Natural Health Product over-regulation
Health Canada’s changes reflect neither the reality of the industry, nor the values around freedom of choice for the over 80 per cent of Canadians who choose natural to maintain their health and wellness.
The health-care system’s hidden backbone: workplace supports for economic sustainability
Whether it be providing long- or short-term care, unpaid carers reduce strain on the healthcare system by taking care of their loved ones either in the home or the community.
Embracing regulatory ambition to shape Canada’s future in health-care innovation
At this pivotal moment, Canada has the ability not only to redefine its healthcare landscape, but also to lead globally in the sector
Answering a call for help can save a life, but what comes next is just as critical
With 12 Canadians dying by suicide every day, the government has set up a national three-digit helpline. But a compassionate response can’t end there. It demands the availability of real help for Canadians in mental distress, before and after they hang up the phone.
Canada needs a workforce action plan to tackle overlapping crises in mental health and overdose deaths
Canada is grappling with overlapping crises in mental health and overdoses that are outpacing the capacity of the mental health and substance use health system to respond. While governments across the country are taking steps to increase access to mental health and substance use health (MHSUH) services— including a recent federal government announcement of $500-million to […]
Moving beyond Band-Aid solutions to deliver health care fit for kids
The Conference Board of Canada estimates the annual costs to treat anxiety and depression in young people to be $4-billion, which balloons to nearly $1-trillion over a lifetime without timely interventions.
Feds must expand pharmacare to include essential drugs for our deadliest diseases: cancer, heart conditions, and stroke
An expanded pharmacare framework offers a lifeline for millions of people in Canada. It is time for federal, provincial, and territorial governments to deliver it.
