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New Brunswick
FREDERICTON
— Eleventh
hour cash injection The only methadone clinic
in the province, which had been set to close this week
because of a lack of federal funding, will remain open
after all. Health Minister Elvy Robichaud says the Fredericton
clinic will receive funds until a province-run program
opens its doors in Saint John later this year. A public
campaign by the clinic's patients, as well as vocal
support from the local police and mayor, is credited
with influencing the decision. JC
SAINT
JOHN — Outbreak
mystery still chafes The cause of an outbreak
of necrotizing fascitis in late April is still undetermined
even after a Health Canada investigation. An epidemiology
team conducted interviews with staff members at St Joseph's
Hospital and made several recommendations for preventing
another outbreak, but found no conclusive cause. In
late April, five people in the area contracted the disease;
one, 37-year-old Debbie Brigley, died four days after
undergoing day surgery at St Joseph's. JC
Nova Scotia
HALIFAX
— Bluenosers
come to doc Nova Scotians rule when it comes
to having a family doctor. The recently released 2003
Canadian Health Survey found that almost 95% of people
in Nova Scotia have a family doctor, well above the
national average of 85.8%. An ongoing rural incentive
program was successful in attracting 16 more doctors
to communities throughout the province in 2004. Despite
the good showing, thousands of Nova Scotians are still
without a family doctor. BH
Prince Edward Island
CHARLOTTETOWN
— Paying
through the nose Islanders don't get a break
when it comes to paying for their meds. Not only did
they spend the most, per capita, on prescription drugs
in 2003 but they also received the smallest percentage
of coverage from their provincial government, according
to a report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
The share of prescription drug payments paid by the
PEI government was only 29% — the lowest in the
country. For every $100 of prescribed drugs in PEI,
the government covers $30. BM
Newfoundland
ST
JOHN'S — Getting
high, OTC Newfoundland pharmacists are not planning
to push for approval of a National Drug Scheduling Advisory
Committee recommendation to permit the sale of dextromethorphan
(DM) over the counter in any stores. Don Rowe, secretary-registrar
of the pharmaceutical association, says there are concerns
about misuse and abuse especially among young people
who are rumoured to buy cough suppressants containing
DM to get high. Some pharmacists have found empty bottles
behind their buildings. DSS
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ST
JOHN'S — Cotton
counting Newfoundland and Nova Scotia pharmacies
have been directed by Health Canada's Office of Controlled
Substances to provide reports on sales of oxycodone-based
products between January and June this year. The request
stems from concerns about abuse and misuse of the drug.
A task force, involving input from drug manufacturer
Purdue Pharma, is expected to submit a final report
to Newfoundland's Minister of Health on how to best
address the problem. DSS
Yukon
WHITEHORSE
— Rx
costs head through the roof Aboriginal Yukoners
are costing the feds $620 per claimant for prescription
drugs. The territory's drug costs are among the highest
in the country according to Health Canada — only
Quebec is higher at $752 per claimant. Some local community
leaders and therapists are concerned that prescription
drug abuse is on the rise in the Yukon and are calling
for an electronic prescribing system. CS
Nunavut
IQALUIT
— A
private matter The federal Information and Privacy
Commissioner says Nunavut needs to do more to protect
health record confidentiality. Elaine Keenan-Bengts
appeared before a legislative standing committee in
Iqaluit last month. Committee member, Quttiktuq MLA
Levi Barnabas, stated that local staff sometimes reveal
information about patients' conditions without their
consent. Rankin Inlet North MLA Tagak Curley added that
patients' names are sometimes announced on local radio
to remind them about medical appointments. JG
Northwest Territories
YELLOWKNIFE
— Get
me a doctor The results from StatsCan's Community
Health Survey are out and things are looking grim for
the NWT. Almost 30% of the people in the territory can't
find an FP — that's three times higher than the
national rate. Dr Andre Corriveau, the territory's chief
medical officer, says that these stats don't take into
consideration many key factors in the North, including
team-based health services and midwife numbers. CS
COLVILLE LAKE
— Reducing
both kinds of consumption
A ban on alcohol has been voted in by members of the
Colville Lake council — at least until mid-October,
because several people in the community are taking medication
for tuberculosis. Mixing alcohol with the TB drug can
lead to extreme liver damage. During the three-month
ban the department of Health and Social Services will
offer services to help people deal with their drinking
problems. Airlines have been warned that alcohol can't
be brought in to the area. CS
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