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British
Columbia
E-solutions for
mental health
VANCOUVER —
The Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) is breaking
new medical ground in Canada. It will be the first in
the country to use technology to help mental health
and addictions clinicians and their patients make more
informed decisions about their care, explained VIHA
CEO Howard Waldner. The technology works by implementing
electronic tools to match those clients with mental
health and addictions with the most appropriate care
in the community. Health Minister George Abbott announced
that Canada Health Infoway's Innovation and Adoption
program is set to invest $1.8 million in the program.
LD
Alberta
Group fights for
private healthcare
CALGARY —
Premier Ralph Klein will soon ride off into the sunset,
and so too it seems will his controversial ideas to
privatize healthcare. But don't tell that to the approximately
75 people from the Citizens for Quality Health Society,
who turned out for a recent conference in Calgary to
discuss ways to improve Alberta's healthcare system.
Dr Larry Olhauser, former CEO of the Alberta College
of Physicians and Surgeons, told the Calgary Sun
that he would like to see the healthcare system enhanced
to allow people to have services such as advanced hip-replacement
in Alberta rather than going out-of-province. GE
Saskatchewan
Accident prevention
pilot launched
REGINA —
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the
Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) joined forces
last week to launch a pilot project to reduce the number
of preventable injuries in kids and seniors, called
Canada's Doctors: Your Partners in Healthy Living. Saskatchewan
doctors will receive tool kits with tips to prevent
falls for golden agers and tots, as well as information
about drowning, poisoning, choking and car safety. The
cost of accidental injuries in Canada exceeds $8.7 billion
annually. TJ
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Hot
Spot
Manitoba
Whistleblower bill
protects MDs
WINNIPEG —
Manitoba's new whistleblower legislation will provide
liability protection for doctors who report fellow physicians
who are unfit to practise, are incompetent, or unethical,
Health Minister Tim Sale told the Winnipeg Sun recently.
The bill, which was tabled in the provincial legislature
mid-May, was prompted by a scandal that occurred in
1994 when 12 infants undergoing cardiac surgery died
at the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre under the watch
of Dr Jonah Odim. HA
Ontario
No cap for drug
fees
TORONTO —
The Ontario government has backed away from a plan that
would have made it difficult for the province's pharmacies
to stock expensive drugs. The plan initially proposed
a $25 cap on the fee pharmacists could charge patients
who bought the high-priced meds. Pharmacists usually
take in a stipend of about 10% of the value of the script.
Pharmacists argued that an imposed fee cap would make
it difficult for drug stores in rural parts of the province
to get their hands on the costly meds. JJM
Ease
deportation laws: MDs
TORONTO —
A group of Toronto doctors along with NDP MP Olivia
Chow are asking Ottawa to ease up on the deportation
of illegal immigrants. One such physician, Dr Meb Rashid,
told the Canadian Press that he and other doctors fear
the recent increase in deportations has pushed the non-residents
underground to the point where they're too frightened
to approach a doctor for medical help. Illegal immigrants
aren't covered by the province's health insurance plan
and doctors generally demand payment out of pocket.
JJM
Quebec
Team to develop
ovarian CA test
MONTREAL —
Physicians and researchers from Quebec and Alberta have
joined forces to develop a diagnostic tool for ovarian
cancer. The project is called DOVE, Detecting Ovarian
Cancer Earlier. Ovarian cancer is considered a silent
killer because symptoms are vague and often mimic other
diseases. The aim is to have a diagnostic test available
by 2010 that will give FPs a reliable tool to clearly
identify a group of symptoms of the cancer. DB
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