Mpox is back.
Mpox is once again a global concern with a more deadly strain emerging from Congo, leading to over 15,000 cases and hundreds of deaths this year, mostly among children.
Why it's important: Mpox has evolved, with clade Ib exhibiting more severe illness and efficient human-to-human transmission.
This weekās WHO declaration of a global emergency highlights the risk to all countries, just as the new strain was detected in Sweden and Thailand. An announcement of mpox popping up in Newfoundland wastewater has some worried, but it should be noted that this represents a small signal for the presence of clade II (the 2022 version). Concerningly, the antiviral used to treat clade II appears to be ineffective, and global vaccine supply is extremely scarce. A rapid global effort will be needed to prevent a 2022 redux, but with worse consequences.
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Newfoundland tightens up travel nurse spending
Newfoundland introduced new standards for hiring private agency nurses following a Globe and Mail investigation, capping pay rates and tightening expense rules.
Why it's important: The overhaul aims to curb skyrocketing costs and prevent misuse of public funds in a system increasingly reliant on private agencies, but itās also spurring privatization concerns.
In response to scrutiny over costly nursing agency contracts, Newfoundlandās new measures include preset hourly rates, strict limits on travel expenses, and the removal of meal allowances. While intended to rein in spending (which reached as high as $312 per hour) the move has sparked backlash from nursing unions, who say the changes will only entrench the private agencies, crystallizing the provinceās dependence on them to keep hospitals staffed.
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Pharmacist suing Shoppers Drug Mart cleared of conflict of interest accusations
The Ontario College of Pharmacists cleared board member, Siva Sivapalan, after investigating his involvement in a class-action lawsuit against Shoppers.
Why it's important: The OCPās decision could positively impact its efforts to regulate abusive corporate practices in chain pharmacies, a key issue in maintaining the professionās integrity and bolstering public trust.
Sivapalan was investigated by the College for a potential conflict due to his participation in a lawsuit against Shoppers Drug Mart. The lawsuit, led by current and former Shoppers pharmacists, alleges that the companyās practices compromise pharmacistsā professional judgment and ability to adhere to practice standards. In April, the Collegeās CEO described the issue as a āproblem of corporate influence diminishing pharmacistsā decision-making autonomy.ā Last week, Sivapalan was re-elected to another term.
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Study reveals significant disparities in surgical waits
An analysis of nearly 940,000 surgeries shows "enormous" differences in wait times for elective surgeries across Ontario, with some patients waiting up to 15 times longer depending on which hospital or surgeon they were referred to.
Why it's important: The extreme variability in wait times for procedures like hip replacements points to the need for a centralized waitlist and referral system.
For procedures like hip replacements, some patients wait just weeks, while others endure life-altering delays. The study authors argue that increasing surgical capacity won't solve the problem unless Ontario better coordinates its waitlists. A proposed fix rolling out in multiple provinces is the expansion of private surgery clinics, though itās unclear what evidence exists to support their cost-effectiveness for taxpayers or actual effect on reducing wait times, while centralized referrals do check both boxes.
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Clarification of Canada Health Act has virtual care, insurance sectors worried
With the government set to issue guidance to provinces regarding out-of-pocket charges for medically necessary care, business groups urge the Health Minister to preserve the status quo surrounding employer-paid virtual care.
Why it's important: Advocacy on this issue is ramping up.
This week, Brett Belchetz of Maple Health penned a somewhat inflammatory piece aggrieving the CMAās draft policy recommendations which support a crackdown on patient fees for medically necessary care. Belchetz also started a change.org petition to the same effect which has 370 signatures as of this writing. The governmentās interpretation letter has already seen significant delays since it was first promised in 2022. I donāt expect this debate to slow down in the coming weeks, but Iām confident its outcome will significantly impact how we access healthcare.
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āNew Brunswick syndromeā raises disturbing questions
Over 400 New Brunswickers now suffer from a mysterious neurological illness which first became known to the public in 2021. The situation is dogged by suppressed research and allegations of a cover-up.
Why it's important: āNew Brunswick syndrome,ā with symptoms ranging from severe spasms to early dementia, is suggestive of a hidden public health crisis with environmental causes.
Despite initial support, the provincial government abruptly paused federal investigations into two localized patient clusters and seemingly strategized to keep ongoing inquiry strictly under its own jurisdictional umbrella. The provinceās own investigation eventually concluded that āno such syndrome exists.ā New Brunswickās economy is highly dependent on forestry and seafood, which experts suggest would have be threatened by a robust investigation into potential environmental causes.
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