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Quebec
LASALLE —
Drugstore
cowboys In a
bizarre case, a pharmacy is suing its doc tenants for
not writing enough scripts — to the tune of $189,000.
The pharmacy claims they're losing tons of cash because
of the parsimonious docs' frugal drug doling ways. The
Quebec Order of Pharmacists is not at all pleased with
the suit, saying the pharmaceutical fracas sends a negative
image to patients and the general public. BW
MONTREAL
— Grand,
private designs Federal Health Minister Ujjal
Dosanjh says his hands are tied when it comes to stopping
a private emergency clinic from operating in Montreal.
The three doctors who operate the clinic would like
to take things even further and they've said they have
a dream of one day opening a private hospital. The Quebec
government says that this is out of the question. The
clinic offers several medical packages ranging in price
and service — please bring plastic, but leave your
medicare card at home. BW
MONTREAL
— Superhospitals
join with captains of industry A recent visit
to Ireland and the UK has convinced Quebec Treasury
Board President Monique JÄrÖme-Forget and
Transport Minister Yvon Marcoux that public-private
partnerships are a cost effective way to finance the
province's planned superhospitals. They claim that the
hospitals will be better funded than the present facilities,
as the private sector would have a vested interest in
maintaining a high standard of quality for their investment,
and thus the government would save money. BW
New
Brunswick
ST STEPHEN —
One flu over the
border A new kind of cross-border sensation is
sweeping across the US-Canada border, and this time
people aren't buying gas, milk, booze or even ciggies.
Our American neighbours only have eyes for our flu jabs.
In the wake of the disastrous nationwide vaccine shortages
in the US, Americans are flocking by the thousands to
Canadian communities like St Stephen to get their vaccine
fix. In a show of international altruism, the town of
St. Stephen is working around the clock to help their
friends in neighbouring Calais, Maine. BW
Nova
Scotia
TRURO —
Soiled soil slammed
A report released October 8 lambasts the use of industrial
waste and treated human sewage (biosolids) as fertilizer
on a local farm, saying that its use "does not stand
scrutiny." A host of problems were cited at the farm,
which has been the focus of many health-related complaints.
MP Bill Casey hopes the "surprisingly frank" report
of the Farm Practices Board will spur development of
national guidelines on biosolid use. BH
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Prince
Edward Island
CHARLOTTETOWN —The
war on big 'C' by the sea PEI
has taken the proverbial lobster by the claws and launched
a provincewide program to help Islanders battle cancer.
The strategy, based on a report entitled "Partners Taking
Action: A Cancer Control Strategy for Prince Edward Island,"
was created by a diverse range of healthcare experts and
endorsed by Health Minister Chester Gillian. Recommendations
tackle a whole range of issues related to cancer, from
prevention to palliative care and survivorship. BW
Newfoundland
ST JOHN'S —
Skilled
and autistic The Autism Society of Newfoundland
and Labrador has raised $420,000 towards a $1.5-million
campaign to build a provincial autism centre. President
Joyce Churchill says the centre, to be built on former
farmland, will provide vocational and life skills training
for autistics of all ages. Programs offered will provide
communication, behavioural and social skills and will
include a working farm where students can learn agricultural
and landscaping techniques. DSS
The
Territories
IQALUIT, NU —
More cold
cash Nunavut will be receiving more funding for
healthcare over the next five years from the federal
government, including $50 million over five years to
cover the territory's formidable medical travel costs
plus $21.7 million for a new territorial health reform
fund. As well, Nunavut will receive an increase of $17
million over six years through its share of increases
to the Canada Health transfer as well a piece of the
$700 million in new funding Ottawa earmarked for aboriginal
health programs. JG
YELLOWKNIFE,
NWT — Labour
vacuum In the NWT, new federal money for healthcare
will be mostly sucked up by existing programs and covering
a new collective agreement under negotiation with the
Union of Northern Workers, which represents the territory's
medical staff save physicians. The NWT's health and
social services minister Michael Miltenberger says he
doubts there will much money left to invest in new health
projects after the territory meets its existing needs.
The annual health and social services budget is now
about $247 million. The NWT stands to receive an additional
$20 million a year. JG
Contributors:
Jane George,Brian
Hoyle, Deanna Stokes-Sullivan, Brent Woodford
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