Solving Canada’s Opioid Epidemic Must Include Tackling What Got Us into the Predicament in the First Place

 By all accounts we are in the midst of a deadly drug epidemic so severe and widespread few people in North America will remain untouched by it.  In case you think I’m exaggerating, right now we have probably the highest rates of narcotic abuse and deaths in modern history. Critics

Dear Health Minister Philpott — We Need Leadership In Medicare Restored

 Dear Minister Philpott, It is fantastic news that as a family doctor you are our next federal health minister.  You will know very well that our healthcare system shows its age.  Born in the middle of the 20th century, its primary focus on doctors and hospitals is outmoded as technology

Are we finally in a health election campaign?

 Why more affordable medications for Canadians should be an all-party priority in this federal election. It's become almost a matter of faith: health and health care are perennially among the top priorities for Canadians, but are nearly invisible in election platforms and debates. This observation has led health care providers, health care

Why Canadian Employers Waste $5 Billion a Year on Inefficient Drug Coverage

 There is certainly a lot of waste in health systems, but one area that seems to have escaped close scrutiny is the waste in private drug plans in Canada.  Estimated at over $5 billion a year, this represents over half of the annual prescription drug bill paid by private insurers

Health Canada Fails to Enforce its own Rules on Pharmaceutical Advertising

 A handsome man struts over to the office water cooler with a smirk on his face. When his colleagues ask about his weekend, he replies enthusiastically, with audio muted. A large blue pill appears with the tagline, “Viagra, Ask Your Doctor.” Vibrant, energetic older people are shown swimming, bowling and

Patient-centred healthcare could reduce wait times and improve the Canadian health system

 By Robert Y. McMurtry Recently I had occasion to spend time in a busy community hospital in order to deal with my apparent adverse drug reaction.  Happily, full recovery ensued but the time spent in the Emergency Department (ED) and ward left a strong impression on me. When my wife

An Era of Restraint in Health Care Spending in Canada

 The question is whether the current decline represents a permanent bending of the health care cost curve or a temporary pause In the wake of new health expenditure data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), the evidence continues to mount that Canadian public health expenditure growth is moderating.

Gorilla Doctors: A Brief History

 In conjunction with the Canadian Museum of Nature's screening of Gorilla Doctors, OLM will be publishing a three-part series written by the documentary cinematographer Michael Boland. The screening takes place Thursday, October 9.  Part One: A Brief History The Virunga Massif, in Africa, is the home to approximately 880 mountain