Catching up today on some stories you might’ve missed. Here's a quick look at what stood out.
Health Canada is looking to bring new medicines to Canadians faster by improving its drug approval process.
The Highlights:
→ The order will prioritize decisions made by foreign regulatory authorities.
→ It will begin with veterinary drugs and drugs for pediatric use.
→ Health Canada has approved 537 new drugs and medical devices over the last three months.
→ Canada is the first G7 country to approve three generic versions of semaglutide.
The CFIA is not restricting fresh produce imports amid cyclospora outbreak infecting thousands with a diarrhea-causing parasite.
The Highlights:
→ Nearly 7,000 people across U.S. may have been sickened with cyclosporiasis due to contaminated produce.
→ The bulk of the cases are in Michigan, with over 3,000 infections.
→ PHAC is not investigating any outbreaks of cyclospora in Canada at this time.
All cancer therapies struggle to target cancers without damaging healthy cells. Researchers suggest anaerobic bacteria could be the answer.
The Highlights:
→ Anaerobes are unable to infect heathy tissue. Instead, they attack low-oxygen environments, such as where tumours live.
→ Pre-clinical tests in mice had confirmed that injected spores of C. sporogenes remained inactive in healthy tissue but grew in tumours.
→ Researchers at the University of Waterloo are investigating the potential of C. sporogenes to treat cancer without damaging hair follicles and stomach lining.
If you've traveled to Congo in the past three weeks, chances are Canada won't let you in as part of its new, temporary border measure for protection against Ebola.
The Highlights:
→ People who were in Congo within the past 21 days are barred from entry.
→ The measure will last until Aug. 29.
→ There is currently 2,124 confirmed cases of Ebola in the DRC, as well as 828 deaths.
→ There have been no travel-related cases in Canada and the risk remains low.
Millions of Canadians who are middle-aged and older are not getting the care they need, according to a 2024 StatsCan report.
The Highlights:
→ The report found that 4.5 million Canadians are waiting months for care and appointments.
→ In 2024, 6.6 million Canadians used specialist care.
→ Specialist care is most commonly used for skin conditions, urological or gynecological issues or an orthopedic condition.
→ Canada's aging population and lack of family doctors, specialists and proper tools are key drivers.
The Highlights:
→ Deals for mental health and addiction services were signed in 2017 for $5 billion.
→ Deals for home care and community care were signed in 2017 for $6 billion.
→ Deals for rare disease strategy were signed in March 2023 for $1.4 billion.
→ The federal government has not yet stated a renewal of these provincial funding agreements.
Pulse Check™
What else we're reading:
- Why wildfire smoke is difficult to forecast and damaging to our health 🔒
- Taylor Farms still tied to cyclospora outbreak despite ‘false positive,’ FDA says
- Lyme disease is becoming one of Canada's defining climate-health challenges
- AI helps pathologists spot prostate cancer faster: What Canada can learn from landmark UK study
- Birdwatching is becoming Toronto’s favourite hobby. It’s not just relaxing — it can actually rewire your brain 🔒
Canada Healthwatch
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