Happy long weekend, Healthwatchers! 🍁 😎
With summer break upon us, this was a bit of a slower-than-normal week for health news, but that doesn’t mean nothing’s happening. Far from it.
First up, a leaked Health Canada memo could reshape healthcare access around the country, hinting at a potential crackdown on patient fees charged by privately-run Nurse Practitioner clinics and virtual care platforms.
Leak signals possible crackdown on virtual care and NP clinic fees
A leaked Health Canada memo sent to provincial governments reveals plans to eliminate patient charges for medically necessary virtual care and primary care services provided by nurse practitioners.
Why it's important: The memo outlines an interpretation of the Canada Health Act mandating that patients should not be charged for medically necessary services covered under the Act, whether provided by a ‘non-physician provider’ or across provincial borders via a virtual platform.
In response, insurance groups have begun to express concerns about the potential loss of employer-paid virtual care benefits, which they say could affect millions of Canadians and place undue strain on primary care.
Read more…
Judge rules against father in HPV vaccination dispute
A B.C. Supreme Court judge granted a mother sole authority to decide to immunize her 11-year old daughter against HPV, ruling against the father's objections.
Why it's important: The father attempted to block the vaccination first by sharing misinformation and frightening videos to his children, and finally by seeking a court order to prohibit the mother from moving forward with vaccinations.
The judge’s decision centres on the idea that a choice to vaccinate should rely on credible health authorities instead of lawsuits or social media content. While the decision is certainly the right one, it’s still a sad story, illustrating the granular realities of what health disinformation can do to relationships and families.
Read more…
New mpox strain causing miscarriages and child deaths poses severe threat
A highly transmissible and deadly strain of mpox is spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, raising concerns about the potential for international spread.
Why it's important: The strain has a reported fatality rate of 5% in adults and 10% in children.
The virus, which spreads through both sexual and non-sexual contact, has resulted in numerous hospitalizations, deaths, and high rates of miscarriage. Unlike the global outbreak in 2022, this more virulent strain poses a severe public health threat and could spread internationally due to frequent cross-border travel in the region.
Read more…
Bird flu jumped to U.S. cows months ago, and the response is lacking
Three months after H5N1 was detected in dairy cattle, experts criticize the inadequate response, pointing to systemic issues in testing, surveillance, and farmer cooperation.
Why it's important: H5N1 has developed adaptations allowing it to replicate in mammals, increasing the risk of a potential human pandemic.
The U.S. outbreak of H5N1 in dairy cows was first announced in March, but has likely been present for seven months. Experts point to insufficient testing infrastructure, lack of comprehensive surveillance, and poor cooperation from farmers. While several more mutations are needed, the virus could plausibly shuffle its genetics with a human flu strain in an animal infected with both strains at once, giving it the ability to spread rapidly among humans.
Read more…
Lawsuit shines light on faith-based hospitals’ refusal to provide MAiD, abortions
A B.C. lawsuit challenges faith-based hospitals' refusal to provide MAiD, spotlighting broader issues of healthcare access in religious-run, but taxpayer-funded facilities.
Why it's important: The family of a patient who was forced to transfer hospitals to receive MAiD is suing Providence Health Care and the B.C. government, arguing that the refusal to provide MAiD in faith-based hospitals violates patients rights.
Under a 1995 agreement, faith-based institutions in B.C. can opt out of providing services like MAiD, abortion, and contraception. The policy has led to disparities in healthcare access, with some patients enduring unnecessary suffering due to forced hospital transfers. The outcome of the case could have some very significant cross-Canada implications.
Read more…
Ontario appoints supervisor to take over hospital amid financial irregularities
Ontario has appointed a supervisor to oversee Renfrew Victoria Hospital (RVH) following allegations of financial mismanagement and irregularities involving the transfer of millions of dollars.
Why it's important: A community group—remaining anonymous—provided documents to CTV alleging that $6.59 million was transferred from RVH to Renfrew Health (a separate entity) between 2019 and 2022.
The funds in question, allegedly transferred without oversight, raise concerns over misappropriation, including understating executive salaries. The situation is further complicated by the removal of these documents from the RVH website after the group approached Ontario Health, raising key questions of transparency and accountability. The Ministry has described the situation as "very serious."
Read more…
And that’s it for this Canada Day weekend edition.
I hope we’ve all been enjoying our long weekend and getting the most out of some free time. Let’s all go and enjoy what’s left of it.
See you in a week!
Nick
Nick Tsergas
National Health News Editor
Canada Healthwatch
[email protected] | canadahealthwatch.ca