News

NDP attempts to prod Liberals into action on pharmacare by tabling its own bill
The NDP and Liberals struck a confidence-and-supply agreement last year that would see the NDP support the government on key votes to hold an election off until 2025 in exchange for progress on NDP priorities.
A rethink of re-referrals: B.C. changes rules to lighten doctors' workload
The ability for specialists to bill for a full consult when seeing patients for a subsequent visit are among the changes to referral rules in the province.

New resource to help explain medication ‘deprescribing’ to patients

JAMA patient information page answers common patient questions about deprescribing.
Atlantic premiers want to expand doctor registry to other healthcare workers

The region’s four premiers first announced the registry in February and said it would make it easier for doctors to work across the Atlantic region.
How to fix primary care? A simple plan for what will work (and what won't)

The Canadian College of Family Physicians advocates for a sensible, strategic approach.
Law Society of Alberta hearing into former health minister Tyler Shandro continues

A Calgary doctor, who had posted a photo on social media of Shandro with a caption related to privatizing healthcare, has told the hearing he received a visit to his home from the minister and his wife in March 2020.
Vancouver family who lost son to fentanyl donates $20 million to recovery centre

Jill Diamond, executive director of Vancouver’s Diamond Foundation and sister to Steven Diamond, said in a statement that her brother might still be alive today if he had received the care being offered at Vancouver’s St. Paul’s Hospital.
B.C. should cover shingles vaccine, argues pharmacist

Having the shingles vaccines publicly funded would save patients from unnecessary pain and save the healthcare system money, says pharmacist Ajit Johal.
England’s health service says it won’t give puberty blockers to children at gender clinics

Children can still be given puberty blockers in exceptional circumstances, the NHS said, and a clinical study on their impact on kids is due to start by next year.
Abstinence not required: How a Baltimore drug treatment program prioritizes saving lives

The clinic exemplifies an ongoing shift in the nation’s approach to stemming overdose deaths, which surged during the pandemic to unprecedented heights as the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl replaced heroin in drug markets across the country.