Health Policy News

Data shows some psychiatric patients wait days in the ER for a hospital admission. Why?
This disparity in wait time has been the case for decades, experts say, and it’s only getting worse as demand outpaces funding across the spectrum of mental healthcare.
Alberta to begin allowing out-of-pocket payments for medical testing as of Friday
Beginning Friday, Albertans will be able to pay out-of-pocket to bypass medical referral for diagnostic screening tests like an MRI or an ultrasound.

PrescribeIT lives to see another day in Quebec with new funding from province

Canada Health Infoway has announced Prescription Québec, which was built off of the PrescribeIT platform, will continue thanks to a new deal with the Quebec government and Santé Québec.
The government has two definitions of disability. Advocates say it leaves people out.

Advocates for people with episodic disabilities say they don’t understand why the federal government has two different definitions of disability in law, and uses the narrower version to decide who’s eligible for benefits.
‘The system is broken’: New CMAJ survey finds 10% of emergency physicians left the profession

The five-year survey also found that nearly half of emergency physicians reduced their clinical hours, with burnout levels remaining consistent since COVID.
Supreme Court ruling confirms that physicians’ skills remain unpatentable

Court upholds Janssen’s drug-dosing patent, preserving the status quo for medical innovations.
Alberta to create 7 regional primary health corporations to ease administrative burden for doctors

The province says these organizations will handle regional planning, funding agreements, reporting and coordination.
Health Canada will lean on trusted foreign regulators to speed up drug approvals

The federal agency said the order is part of a broader effort to modernize Canada’s drug approval system and improve access to medicines.
Canada's Drug Agency recommends funding lecanemab for early-stage Alzheimer's disease

The antibody targets the buildup of amyloid plaque in the brain, which is believed to be an underlying cause of the disease.
New Brunswick vows improvements to virtual care after criticism of new provider

On June 30, New Brunswick switched to a new private virtual healthcare provider—Foundever—from eVisitNB, another private service that started during the pandemic.

Data shows some psychiatric patients wait days in the ER for a hospital admission. Why?

Alberta to begin allowing out-of-pocket payments for medical testing as of Friday

PrescribeIT lives to see another day in Quebec with new funding from province

The government has two definitions of disability. Advocates say it leaves people out.

‘The system is broken’: New CMAJ survey finds 10% of emergency physicians left the profession

Supreme Court ruling confirms that physicians’ skills remain unpatentable

Alberta to create 7 regional primary health corporations to ease administrative burden for doctors

Health Canada will lean on trusted foreign regulators to speed up drug approvals

Canada's Drug Agency recommends funding lecanemab for early-stage Alzheimer's disease

New Brunswick vows improvements to virtual care after criticism of new provider