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Quebec
MONTREAL — It’s a bird … it’s a plane Superclinics have landed in Montreal and that’s good news for the more than 150,000 Montrealers without a doc to call their own. The no-appointment “network” clinics will be staffed by teams of 15 to 25 doctors and be open 12 hours a day Monday to Friday, eight hours a day on weekends. The clinics are more than traditional walk-in clinics, says Renald Dutil, Head of the Quebec Federation of General Practitioners, in that patients can get clinical, semi-urgent, work done on the spot, ranging from blood tests to X-rays. DB
MONTREAL — By and large the kids are all right A report commissioned by Quebec’s health department has given top marks to the youngsters of Montreal, according to Dr Richard Lessard, director of prevention and public health. A total of 3,500 high school students participated in the study that examined both physical and psychological health. “A large majority …live a normal, productive youth,” said an impressed Dr Lessard, though some reported health problems including back pain, bad posture, stress and fatigue (53%) and respiratory problems (20%). Interestingly these are the same complaints adult workers have. DB
New Brunswick
FREDERICTON — Let’s make a deal In a letter addressed to Premier Bernard Lord, Dr Henry Morgentaler says he’s willing to withdraw his lawsuit against New Brunswick if the government buys his Fredericton clinic and abortion services are maintained and covered by medicare. The doctor charges that the province should pay for private abortions because hospital abortions are difficult to get. “I opened the clinic because access to abortion services in New Brunswick has always been inadequate,” wrote Dr Morgentaler in a letter to the premier. “This regulation is clearly illegal.” SB
Contributors: Hector Andrews, Simon Biggar, Donna Byers, Lance Davies, Geoff Everett, Thane Jenkins, Julie J. Mercier, Deana Stokes Sullivan, and Brent Woodford.
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Nova Scotia
HALIFAX — Eye for an eye Nova Scotia ophthalmologist Dr Dan Belliveau says he has performed surgery on 10 uninsured patients in his private clinic, and he would like the government to pay — especially since he claims he can do the job 30% cheaper. “There’s no reason that we should not be able to provide insured services as long as the quality of care is guaranteed,” he noted. ”If I provide the same service and charge the government less money for it, I believe we are all winners.” Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm says there may be some merit to the case. SB
Prince Edward Island
CHARLOTTETOWN — Storms on the Island Premier Pat Binns and opposition leader Joe Ghiz locked horns in question period recently over the state of healthcare on the Island. Mr Ghiz was riled up over an advisory issued by Dominion Bond Rating Service that the province should curb healthcare spending. Mr Ghiz accused the government of mismanaging the province’s finances, and consequently allowing bond raters to make decisions for Islanders. Mr Ghiz advocated relief for PEI’s roughly 192 overworked doctors and recommended the province hire a hospitalist to aid PEI’s circa 1,000 ‘orphan’ patients. BW
Newfoundland
ST JOHN’S — More but older Newfoundland has more practising physicians this year but many are either nearing retirement or working past normal retirement age. According to the latest membership statistics for the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, 57% of the association’s 1,015 practising members are 45 or older. Only 19 are 25-29 years of age. The number of members actively practising medicine is up from 995 last year and 934 in 2003, while the average age of a practising member is currently 47.5, up slightly from last year’s average age of 47.3. DSS
The Territories
WHITEHORSE, YT — The comeback kid In our April 30 edition we brought you the story of young Yukoner Mackenzie Olsen, who suffers from the rare disease Hurler-Scheie Syndrome, and was caught in inter-regional squabbling over who should pay for treatment. It looks like Mackenzie will receive the life saving medical treatment he needs after all — at least for now. The Calgary Health Region saved the day as they agreed to provide the $17,000-a-week treatment that the 10-year-old boy, now a resident of Alberta, needs to stay alive. SB
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