Health in the News

Alberta’s government paused its ambulance contract strategy for seven municipalities with integrated fire and ambulance services after introducing a benchmark price in March that would have reduced provincial funding for some communities. The…

Across Canada, people are waiting months for medical appointments at dermatologists, including skin checks, mole removals, eczema and psoriasis. The Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) reports the wait times are due to multiple factors,…

The investment into the health data platform will securely connect de-identified near-real-time clinical data from hospitals across Canada. The platform is intended to create the country's largest hospital data network, giving researchers access…

The Government of Saskatchewan signed the nurse practitioner (NP) primary care contracts in Regina as part of its Patients First Health Care Plan. The province also removed the cap on NP contracts and changed rules in May to let nurse…

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…

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…

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…

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…