Hello Healthwatchers! 👨🏻‍⚕️

Welcome to another edition of The Weekly Dose, where we cut through the noise to the very heart of health news. This week, it’s seemingly all bird flu all the time, but there’ve been many other big healthcare developments. Let’s get started.

H5N1 genome in U.S. milk shows the virus is more widespread than first thought

With new evidence that the virus has been spreading covertly in mammals for several months, Canadian officials are considering stockpiling vaccines in case of a pandemic scenario.

Why it's important: The H5N1 outbreak in U.S. cattle has potentially been flying under the radar for months, meaning the virus has had ample opportunity to mutate.

Human cases remain rare and associated with direct animal contact, and authorities have asserted the safety of pasteurized milk, though confirmatory testing of this assumption is ongoing. The U.S. has used testing of commercial milk samples as an additional surveillance layer and found viral genome in 38% of milk samples, suggesting more widespread transmission among herds than what was previously thought. For our part, the CFIA stated that no H5N1 has been detected in Canadian cattle, therefore they are not testing Canadian milk. In time this could be seen as a pivotal error. Milk testing is a cost-effective strategy for early disease-detection that could prevent the loss of countless animals and avert a food pricing crisis. Industry is beginning to feel the impacts with countries starting to restrict imports of U.S. beef.
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Doctors say their retirements are threatened by the Liberals’ new wealth tax

The CMA joined calls this week claiming proposed changes to capital gains taxation will jeopardize doctors' plans for retirement. Financial experts offer mitigating strategies, but concerns remain over the downstream impacts on doctors.

Why it's important: The heightened financial pressure comes at a time when many physicians report deteriorated mental health and increased job-stress. The risk of a reduced medical workforce is a real one as some may consider leaving their fields for greener pastures.

In the context of rising overhead costs and unpaid administrative workloads, the proposed increase in the capital gains inclusion rate could push already beleaguered physicians out of the country, or more likely, out of their area of practice—this is perhaps particularly true for family doctors. While financial planners suggest solutions like registered pension plans to shield investments, these options aren’t always feasible. The government views the changes as a step towards fiscal fairness and a means of balancing increased spending, yet the medical community is warning of potentially deep cuts into both the sector's morale and capacity.
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With fanfare and criticism, Alberta launches funding model for Nurse Practitioners

Alberta's new $15-million NP program aims to bolster the province’s capacity to deliver primary care, despite concerns from the medical community.

Why it's important: The new model is a sure way to close the primary care gap, opening up “access to care” for countless Albertans. But doctors say that NPs can’t simply replace family physicians without consequences.

Under the new model, NPs will earn about 80% of what family doctors currently make if they manage at least 900 patients and offer extended hours. The model is designed to increase access, particularly in rural areas, by allowing NPs to set up their own practices or join existing clinics. The Alberta Medical Association argues that NPs aren’t a viable replacement for family doctors due to differences in scope and a wide discrepancy in experiential training, warning that this approach may lead to more fragmented healthcare services. It’ll be interesting to see what the data says in a couple of years, and I’m sure other provinces will be watching.
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Post-Budget, Pharmacare’s future is already on the line

After the federal budget’s release, policy experts reveal the precarious nature of the proposed Pharmacare rollout, which threatens the program’s viability.

Why it's important: The slow funding rollout leaves the program vulnerable to a change in government, and the current financial commitment might not be sufficient to ensure the program's stability or success.

The federal budget earmarked $1.5 billion for the program over five years, but with a meager $59 million allocated this fiscal year, the stated amount isn’t adequate to cover Canadians requiring diabetes medications and contraceptives. Experts say the feds’ taste for fiscal caution will hinder the ability to secure prompt and effective provincial agreements, essential to the program’s survival. Former staffers and policy advisors express skepticism about achieving tangible benefits before the next election, criticizing the government's approach as potentially too tentative to foster real, enduring change.
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Ontario eliminates sick note requirement for short absences, invests in AI scribes

Ontario's cancellation of sick note requirements for absences of up to 3 days revives a 2018 Liberal policy, but with more restrictions.

Why it's important: Critics say the measure oversimplifies administrative issues in primary care and offers inadequate protection of patient rights.

The PC’s rollback to allow self-attestations or pharmacy medication receipts instead of sick notes is seen as a positive-though-minimal step that doesn't substantially reduce the burden on family physicians or protect employees’ rights to privacy. With doctors still overwhelmed by paperwork for chronic issues and referrals, and patients left to shoulder costs, calls for more comprehensive reforms are emerging. For its part, the AI Scribe pilot project will be administered by OntarioMD and is definitely a positive step, though not a cure-all for the root causes behind our healthcare woes.
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Weekend surgeries at Toronto hospitals slash joint-replacement waitlists

By using time on weekends for joint surgeries, the Toronto Regional Arthroplasty Collaborative (TRAC) is reducing wait times, suggesting that efficient planning within the public system can improve patient care.

Why it's important: This success-story offers up strong evidence that public healthcare can adapt to meet today's challenges effectively.

The initiative has substantially cut waits, with patients seeing surgeons within a month of referral. TRAC’s use of existing hospital resources during typically idle times showcases an underused and cost-effective capacity within the public system to significantly increase surgical output. As Ontario sees nationwide recognition for short surgical wait times, TRAC shows the ability of public healthcare to deliver timely care without sweeping structural changes like those laid out in Bill 60.
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Some big personal news.

The Tsergas house is preparing for the arrival of our second child on Tuesday. It’s awesome, and we’re excited, but this means I’ll be off next week. I'll be back with more health insights and updates soon. Until then, take care and get lots of sleep, because I probably won’t.

Yours in health,

Nick Tsergas
National Health News Editor
Canada Healthwatch
[email protected] | canadahealthwatch.ca