MONTREAL – A new MEI-Ipsos poll says 50 percent of Canadians are dissatisfied with their provincial healthcare systems. That feeling runs highest in the Atlantic provinces, where two in three people are dissatisfied, according to the study. The poll also found nearly six in 10 Canadians think the rate of growth of public healthcare spending is unsustainable, while only a quarter think the increase in health spending over the past decade had a positive impact.
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VICTORIA – The British Columbia government is bringing in new digital tools to help hundreds of thousands of residents who need a family doctor find one faster and easier. Starting April 17, the province will introduce digital tools within the “attachment system” and add 70 so-called attachment co-ordinators to use those tools to make it faster and easier for those in need to find a doctor or nurse practitioner.
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REGINA – Saskatchewan says it’s “deeply disappointed” in the federal government’s decision to claw back $1 million in funding related to medical imaging services in Saskatchewan. On March 21, federal minister of Health Mark Holland announced mandatory Canada Health Transfer deductions for some provinces for 2021 to 2022.
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OTTAWA – The Liberal government is setting aside $2.4 billion in its upcoming budget to build capacity in artificial intelligence, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured) announced. The bulk of that – $2 billion – is going into a fund that will aim to provide access to computing capabilities and technical infrastructure.
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EDMONTON – Alberta premier Danielle Smith (pictured) said the province will introduce legislation this spring to create a new governing organization, called Recovery Alberta, to be the new provincial health agency responsible for delivering mental health and addiction services. Smith said the new system, if passed, will be implemented by July 1.
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TORONTO – Ontario’s health privacy legislation – the Personal Health Information Protection Act, or PHIPA for short – was designed to protect patients. And in that respect, it works, keeping patient data secure. However, in an era when data is becoming so important, and sharing data can save lives, perhaps the legislation is too strict.
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TORONTO – In February, a group of academics at U of T held a day-long session examining healthcare leadership and policy issues. Called FHLIP, short for the Future of Health Leadership, Informatics and Policy, the event was organized by Dr. Kareem Keshavjee and Dr. Abbas Zavar. Both teach in the university’s health informatics program.
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MONCTON, NB – The federal government of Canada and the government of New Brunswick announced more than $430 million to improve healthcare access and services in New Brunswick. “This announcement is another step in our government’s work to build the best public healthcare system for Canadians at every stage of their lives. When we work together and find solutions, we can achieve great results. These agreements will lead to better public healthcare for the people of New Brunswick through more access to doctors and nurses, better care for important surgeries like hip and knee procedures, and support for the care that seniors need,” said Mark Holland (pictured), Canada’s minister of Health.
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TORONTO – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured), alongside the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, announced a new $3.1 billion agreement to improve healthcare in Ontario. This investment will help increase access to family doctors, reduce wait times, hire more healthcare workers, and ensure faster care for Canadians, including mental healthcare.
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OTTAWA – According to a new survey commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), 81% of people living in Canada say they trust physicians most to provide information about health and the healthcare system, followed closely by pharmacists and nurses (both 79%).
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