The federal government introduced a 10-hour annual cap on mental health sessions for asylum seekers and refugee claimants under the Interim Federal Health Program, alongside a 30% copayment for supplemental benefits such as dental care, optometry…
Health in the News
Note: These are summaries of information originally produced by external sources (media, press releases, government, etc.). All questions should be directed to the original news source listed.
- NBHC Engagement
The increase in specialist wait-lists was reported in a survey by Doctors of B.C. and Consultant Specialists of B.C., adding to a backlog that reached 1.2 million British Columbians waiting to see a specialist in 2024. Consultant Specialists of B…
Horizon Health Network says patients in active labour who are diverted from disrupted labour services at Upper River Valley Hospital should not drive themselves to another hospital as previously directed. Instead, the network is organizing and…
- NBHC Engagement
Alberta’s government announced that beginning in Sept., physicians who provide publicly funded services will also be allowed to privately bill patients for surgeries under a dual practice model. United Nurses of Alberta President Heather Smith…
The 77 positions include nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical radiation technologists, combined lab and x-ray technicians and phlebotomists, to fill existing part-time vacancies or establish new roles. The initiative is funded through…
The federal government is allocating $2.8 million from the Emergency Treatment Fund to address the overdose crisis in Atlantic Canada, including projects in Fredericton and Miramichi. The funding will support local initiatives such as expanding…
- NBHC Engagement
As the premiers meet in Ontario, the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Nurses Association are urging provincial leaders to keep health system reform as part of the discussions, despite the focus on economic issues. The groups are…
A new Indigenous-led research partnership between the First Nations Health Consortium, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary aims to improve health outcomes for children, youth, and families in Treaty First Nations across…
The New Brunswick Department of Social Development has granted Horizon Health Network "critical state admission prioritization status," allowing patients without medical needs at four regional hospitals to be prioritized for long-term care beds…
The Medical Society of P.E.I., the Department of Health and Wellness, and Health P.E.I. have initiated a mediation process to address the number of patients family doctors should manage. This follows disputes over a new operational guide from…
Cheaper versions of obesity medications like Ozempic and Wegovy may become available in Canada by January, as Novo Nordisk's market exclusivity ends. These medications, containing semaglutide, are used to regulate blood sugar and appetite. With…
An after-hours medical clinic in Moncton, attached to the Main Street Atlantic Superstore, has permanently closed. The closure is attributed to a lack of resources and physicians, making it difficult to maintain sustainable hours. The clinic's…
Dr. Francois Reitz, senior lead physician for the Saskatchewan Medical Association’s rural relief program, is raising concerns about the growing challenges faced by rural healthcare workers amid widespread staff shortages. Emergency room closures…
- NBHC Engagement
Melanoma Canada launched the Mole Mobile, a mobile skin cancer screening unit, to visit major Canadian cities, underserved communities, and rural and Indigenous regions. This initiative aims to reduce wait times for dermatological consultations…
The Kootenay East Regional Hospital District board approved an additional $30 million in funding for the F.W. Green Home expansion project in Cranbrook, bringing the total project cost to $232 million. The expansion will be a 150-bed long-term…
Public Health has confirmed a case of measles in the Sussex region of New Brunswick, believed to be linked to a traveler who passed through the area in late June. Residents and recent visitors are urged to monitor for symptoms such as fever,…