By Joel Lexchin and Barbara Mintzes advertsising, Canadian health care, Canadian healthcare system, drugs, Health Canada, health promotion, Lipitor ad, pharmaceutical ads, Pharmaceutical advertising, Pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical policies in Canada, Pharmaceutical policy, prescription drug, promoting drugs, Viagra ad
A handsome man struts over to the office water cooler with a smirk on his face. When his colleagues ask about his weekend, he replies enthusiastically, with audio muted. A large blue pill appears with the tagline, “Viagra, Ask Your Doctor.” Vibrant, energetic older people are shown swimming, bowling and having a good time. With a twinkle in their eye, they suggest the viewer “ask your doctor” about Celebrex.
By Ryan Meili access to health care, affordable housing, budgets, Canada, Canadian health care, Canadian healthcare system, economy, education, Health care costs and spending, Low-income children, Mental health, wealth
A moneylender sees the light, discovering a spirit of giving and generosity. It’s a classic Christmas tale of redemption — and redistribution — but this year the convert in question appears to be one of Canada’s biggest banks.
By Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein access to health care, administrative costs, American health care, bureaucratic costs, Canada, Canadian health care, Canadian healthcare system, Health care costs, Health costs, health insurance, Healthcare spending, hospital, hospital bill, hospitalization, isurance plan, United States
In many countries, bereaved families get condolence cards and flowers. In the U.S., the survivors are also deluged with hospital bills and insurance paperwork. That paperwork isn’t merely an insult. It costs U.S. society a fortune.
By Paul Allison Canadian health care, Canadian healthcare system, Canadians without dental insurance, dental care, Dental health, dentist, Health care financing, private dental insurance
There are many reasons why some Canadians choose not to go to the dentist, but a new report released this week from the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) found that cost is a major factor — and that Canada’s most vulnerable populations have the highest rates of dental decay, pain and disease, but the worst access to this much needed healthcare service.
By Steve Morgan access to health care, Canadian health care, Canadian healthcare system, drugs, Health care costs, Health care reform, Health costs, health insurance, Healthcare spending, insurance premiums, New-Brunswick, prescription drug, prescription drug insurance, public-private
The Liberal government of New Brunswick appears to be stepping back from the brink of mandatory prescription drug insurance. And so they should.
By Karen S. Palmer and Gordon Guyatt Acces-based funding, access to health care, activity-based funding, budgets, Canadian health care, global budgets, Health care costs and spending, hopitalization, upcoding
Most Canadians probably don’t realize that health care in Canada is quietly undergoing a major transformation in funding that could significantly impact patients. Three provinces are implementing a new funding model for hospitals and other provinces are watching with interest.
By Trudy Lieberman Affordable care cost act, Canadian health care, diagnosing poverty, health care, health outcomes, housing, poverty, poverty markers, poverty tool
A Toronto doctor named Gary Bloch has developed a poverty tool for medical practitioners. It helps assess what patients might need other than prescriptions for the newest drugs; it zooms in on the social determinants of health — food, housing, transportation — all poverty markers linked to bad health and poor health outcomes.
By Danielle Martin and Steve Morgan Canada, Canadian health care, Health system, Pharmacare, Pharmaceutical policy, Prescription drug coverage, Prescription Drug Crisis, prescription drugs, universal pharmacare
Health Ministers from across Canada will gather in Banff to discuss issues of common interest and explore opportunities to work together. Pharmacare — a program that would see all prescription drug costs covered through a publicly funded system instead of out-of-pocket — will almost certainly be on the agenda.
By access to health care, Canada, Canadian health care, Canadian healthcare system, education, health, Health care costs, hospital, nutrition
Sara Mojtehedzadeh.
The Toronto Star
By Nicole F. Bernier aging population, Canadian health care, homecare, informal caregivers, medicare, National homecare system, seniors, unpaid caregivers, unpaid caregiving
The unexpected and largely unreported good news about homecare in this country is that the vast majority of Canadians who receive home help or homecare for a chronic health condition are getting all the services they need.