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British
Columbia
VANCOUVER —
Cancer can be beaten
It was a gala event that saw hundreds of cancer
survivors, some big wig politicians, and leading medical
thinkers gather in front of a new $95 million state-of-the-art
cancer research building in Vancouver. The modern 15-storey
centre, complete with DNA-inspired spiral staircase,
will house nine research departments including a genome
sciences centre, the Terry Fox Laboratory, cancer genetics
and developmental biology. LD
VANCOUVER
— A
heart of gold for mental health In more BC money
news, a tremendously magnanimous anonymous donation
has put the province at the vanguard of mental health
research almost overnight. UBC President Martha Piper
and Premier Gordon Campbell have announced a $20 million
advance in mental health research, training and policy.
The cash booster was incited by a $10 million gift,
the largest ever to mental health in Canada, from an
anonymous donor who is a close friend of the university.
The BC government was inspired to match the donation
dollar for dollar — subject to legislative approval.
LD
Alberta
CALGARY —
Is there a doctor
anywhere? A recent national study revealed that
nearly 40% of Albertan family doctors have trouble getting
specialists for their patients, especially orthopedic
surgeons and psychiatrists. Dr Jane Ballantine, president
of the Alberta Medical Association, asserted that the
problem will only get worse unless more students are
enrolled in medical school. Illustrating the gravity
of the situation, Dr Catherine Kuzyk, a GP, added, "It
may take up to nine months to get an appointment with
an orthopedic surgeon — just to get an office consultation."
LD
Saskatchewan
REGINA —High
tech natter The
province of Saskatchewan will be presented with a cheque
for $1.25 million from the federal government to develop
and build software that will allow healthcare practitioners
to communicate with each other about patients they have
in common. Saskatchewan will work in conjunction with
Alberta, Manitoba and BC to create a database related
to three chronic diseases: diabetes, hypertension and
renal failure. Marlene Chapellaz, the Provincial Diabetes
Coordinator for Sask Health, said diabetics are good
examples of patients who see a number of practitioners
at any given time. TJ
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Manitoba
BRANDON —
The one
that got away For the second time in two months
the land of the Wheat Kings has experienced the disappointment
of losing a potential and much needed pediatrician recruit.
Brandon has been without a pediatrician since last October
when Drs Mohammed Naeem and Jay Patidar both left town
to set up shop elsewhere. Dr Andrew Baron of the Brandon
Regional Health Authority said that the failed bids
have nothing to do with the city or the contract offers,
but rather simple supply-and-demand issues. HA
Ontario
TORONTO —
Group care
= more patients seen? Health Minister George
Smitherman's hopes his announcement that more than 200
groups have applied to set up the first 45 family health
teams in Ontario will help ease the doctor shortage
in Ontario — not to mention tensions between him
and those on the front lines. While Minister Smitherman
cited a practice in Hamilton that increased its patient
load by one-third, OMA president Dr John Rapin worries
that the physicians are simply being recycled —
that is to say many of the applications are from doctors
already in practice in Ontario, thus reducing the impact
of the new groups. JJM
OTTAWA
— A
flu for the birds According to Ottawa's chief
medical officer, Dr Robert Cushman, the capital won't
be ready to handle a flu pandemic for another 18 months,
despite a warning from the WHO that the avian flu virus
could strike our shores at any time. Ottawa, however,
isn't the only community that's not prepared. Ontario's
medical health officer conducted a recent survey that
shows that only 23 out of 37 Ontario health regions
are working on a plan to battle the pandemic. JJM
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