In the wake of horrors laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic in our senior care facilities, the Government of Alberta commissioned a review of facility-based continuing care in the province. Recommendations from the government-appointed panel were released at the end of last month. The report makes several important recommendations on improving quality of lifeContinue reading “Transformative change needed in care for seniors”
Category Archives: Health
COVID-19 vaccine policies explained
Following a worrisome wait for a renewed supply of COVID-19 vaccines, many Albertans now have the opportunity to receive their vaccine much sooner than expected. Many are pleased at the accelerated timelines and are ready to roll up their sleeves, but some are anxious or confused about the evolving COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. COVID-19 vaccine guidelinesContinue reading “COVID-19 vaccine policies explained”
Resilience and self-reliance key to pandemic recovery
COVID-19 vaccine shipments to Canada were reduced in recent weeks and Canadians have felt frustrated and helpless at being asked to wait. We have watched with envy as other countries manufactured vaccines and inoculated their citizens. Canada was similarly vulnerable at the beginning of the pandemic when countries scrambled to procure adequate supplies of masks,Continue reading “Resilience and self-reliance key to pandemic recovery”
COVID-19 vaccine brings hope for the new year
Last week, Health Canada announced approval of the first vaccine against COVID-19 infection for use in Canada. The development of highly effective vaccines against a virus that we couldn’t name a year ago will surely go down in history as an unequalled biomedical triumph. The vaccine development process normally takes decades, not months, to accomplish. Continue reading “COVID-19 vaccine brings hope for the new year”
Privatizing health care is no panacea
Alberta’s UCP government is looking to privatization as a cure for what ails Alberta’s public health care system. Bill 30 allows for-profit corporations to bill the government directly for medical services and 30% of surgeries conducted in Alberta will be done in private facilities by 2023. Despite ample evidence suggesting the opposite, the Kenney governmentContinue reading “Privatizing health care is no panacea”
National Pharmacare: A prescription for change
Canada is the only developed country with universal health care but no national pharmacare program. In the recent throne speech, the federal Liberals pledged to change that. But Canadians have heard this before from our government with little action to date. It is time that we hold them to their promise. Drugs account for theContinue reading “National Pharmacare: A prescription for change”
Impact of COVID-19 on children
Seniors are at highest risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 infection but children may suffer effects from the pandemic over an entire lifetime. The direct impact of COVID-19 on children is usually asymptomatic or mild infection with only rare hospitalization or ICU admission. But, the impact of school closures, economic shutdowns and socialContinue reading “Impact of COVID-19 on children”
Public policy determines health and well-being
If you have read my previous commentaries, you may have found yourself wondering why a medical doctor would write about public policy. In the first twenty years of my career, I worked in clinics, emergency rooms and intensive care units. Sometimes, it seemed that no matter how hard I worked or how much I caredContinue reading “Public policy determines health and well-being”
Confidence during the COVID-19 Crisis
In times of crisis, we reap the benefits of the society we have built around us. This is why knowing that I live in Canada lets me sleep better at night. Although the novel coronavirus causing the global pandemic is virtually identical in all parts of the world, it is having dramatically different consequences inContinue reading “Confidence during the COVID-19 Crisis”
The Engaged Citizen 