Tag Archives: Public health

Understanding the opioids crisis in Canada

November 13, 2016

North America is grappling with an opioids epidemic. British Columbia has even declared a public health emergency because of a significant increase in opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Dr. David Juurlink, Head of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at …

Ambulance fees are an obstacle on the road to care Ambulance fees are an obstacle on the road to care
By Ryan Meili and Carolyn Nowry

Experiencing a medical emergency is a stressful experience for patients and their family. This stress should not be compounded by worries about getting an ambulance bill they can’t afford.

Ambulance fees are an obstacle on the road to care Ambulance fees are an obstacle on the road to care
By Ryan Meili and Carolyn Nowry

The variety and inequality of ambulance charges in Canada is a policy mess. Canada’s health ministers should work together to establish a consistent and compassionate approach.

MEILI_NOWRY_Ambulance-fees-are-an-obstacles-on-the-road-to-care Ambulance fees are an obstacle on the road to care
By Ryan Meili and Carolyn Nowry

Imagine you’re a physician seeing a six month old child in clinic. She has a fever and cough, she’s working hard to breathe and her oxygen levels are falling. You know she needs assessment in the emergency room and requires transportation in an ambulance in case her condition worsens en route. Her family understands the urgency of the situation, but asks, “Could we take her there in our car?”

MEILI_Growing income gap poses a health risk to al Growing income gap poses a health risk to all
By Ryan Meili

Certain Canadian commentators are bringing forth a strange critique of public health, suggesting that physicians and public health experts, charged with caring for the health of Canadians, should not concern themselves with the root causes of illness and stick to a narrow range of health interventions.

ederal government moves to strip power from top public health scientist Federal government moves to strip power from top public health scientist
By Colleen M. Flood and Steven J. Hoffman

Buried in the current omnibus budget bill being studied by Parliament is a plan to demote the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada. He will no longer hold a deputy minister rank, he will have no direct line to the federal minister of health, he will be subservient to a bureaucratic agency president and he will have no secure public funding.