Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Canadian Doctors For Medicare @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social · Jul 31

We hope Prime Minister Carney follows through on the promise of #Pharmacare set out by his predecessor. Canadians are depending on him to deliver on this historic legislation.
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

Carney government is silent on prospect of pharmacare deals for provinces like Ontario

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s silence on Ottawa’s outstanding pharmacare deals with provinces and territories — including Ontario — have health experts questioning why the issue no longer appears to be

www.thestar.com

14 22

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Edward Xie @edwardxie.bsky.social · Jul 31

With most of Canada under heat 🚨 warnings this week, I'll be hosting a conversation on #heatwaves and #health with @drmelissalem.bsky.social & @monikadutt.bsky.social

Join us August 5 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Thanks @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social & @cape-acme.bsky.social

Webinar on Heatwaves: protecting health in a climate crisis

Canada is heating up twice as fast as the global average. Extreme heat is putting increasing strain on our health and health systems. Join us on August 5 at 7 pm ET to learn about ways to cope with heat and how better Medicare could save lives.

To register for the webinar follow the link

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Melissa Lem and Dr. Monika Dutt to the panel, with Dr. Edward Xie moderating the discussion.

We look forward to seeing you there!

7 11

Canadian Doctors For Medicare @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social · May 21

We are sounding the alarm on the growing influence of private equity investment in Canada's health care system.

Read our position statement below:

www.canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca/canadian_doc...

Canadian Doctors for Medicare’s Position Statement on Private Equity Investment in Canadian Health Care

Seeking to strengthen and improve Canada's universal publicly-funded health care system. Evidence-based, values driven.

www.canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca

4 41 53

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Danyaal Raza @danyaalraza.com · May 21

I'm late to sharing this excellent, good news story, based on a @cmaj.ca study.

The key to cutting wait times, in half?

Publicly-funded, team-based surgical care using centralized referral pathways.

This is exactly what we need more of.

www.cbc.ca/news/health/...

Why having surgeons work together reduces wait times for hip and knee replacements | CBC News

Canadians who need a hip or knee replacement could get the surgery quickly without needing more operating rooms or funding if surgeons worked off a centralized list of patients, the author of a new st...

www.cbc.ca

1 8 22

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Edward Xie @edwardxie.bsky.social · May 12

Have you been asked to pay a fee to get services covered by Medicare?

User fees for medically necessary care are inefficient, unaffordable, and unfair. They turn a profit on patients at times of vulnerability.

They're also illegal in Canada.

🧵 #cdnhealth

Nick Tsergas @nicktsergas.ca · May 5

Charging patients for publicly insured care is illegal. So is steering them toward unnecessary, add-on services.

This week, we’re looking at proposed provincial legislation that would finally enforce these rules. It's an Ontario story, with national relevance.

canadahealthwatch.ca/newsletter/2...

Should provinces crack down on illegal healthcare fees?

Canada's national curated aggregator for current health news, analysis, and podcasts.

canadahealthwatch.ca

3 10 17

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Canada Healthwatch 🍁 @canadahealthwatch.ca · May 3

Many diabetes medications, birth control now free in PEI under new pharmacare deal www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... @cbcnews.ca

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: CanadaHealthwatch.ca/newsletter 🍁

Access to the national pharmacare program started this month on P.E.I., providing free coverage for a range of diabetes medications and birth control products.

29 120

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Canada Healthwatch 🍁 @canadahealthwatch.ca · May 3

LifeLabs strike highlights risks of foreign ownership in Canadian health care healthydebate.ca/2025/04/topi... @maddidellplain.bsky.social @healthydebate.bsky.social

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: CanadaHealthwatch.ca/newsletter 🍁

Lifelabs corp HQ. American-owned Quest Diagnostics purchased LifeLabs in August 2024 from OMERS, a jointly owned pension fund company, for CDN $1.35 billion. LifeLabs’ B.C. workers, who have been without a contract since last April, have been on strike since Feb. 16.

5 29 71

Canadian Doctors For Medicare @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social · Apr 29

Congratulations to Mr. Carney on the election! This article by @danyaalraza.com is especially timely today.

'If Carney is to be Canada’s choice for Prime Minister — and he truly believes healthcare is a right, not a business — now’s his chance to prove it."

#Pharmacare

Canada Healthwatch 🍁 @canadahealthwatch.ca · Apr 14

Pharmacare's future canadahealthwatch.ca/2025/04/14/p... by @danyaalraza.com @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: canadahealthwatch.ca/newsletter 🍁

Pharmacare’s future

Carney’s stance on pharmacare will show whose side he’s on.

canadahealthwatch.ca

2 13 55

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Canada Healthwatch 🍁 @canadahealthwatch.ca · Apr 16

From boardrooms to beds: Can empty offices ease hospital overcrowding? policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/ap... @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social @irpp.org

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: CanadaHealthwatch.ca/newsletter 🍁

cool shot of a bunch of very glassy office buildings in close proximity to each other. All you can see is windows.

1 3 11

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Canada Healthwatch 🍁 @canadahealthwatch.ca · Apr 24

Liberals would use Canada Health Act to push back on privatization, says health minister www.bradfordtoday.ca/2025-federal... @kamalkheralib.bsky.social

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: CanadaHealthwatch.ca/newsletter 🍁

Federal Minster of Health, Kamal Khera, showed her support during a visit to local Liberal candidate Mike Hanrahan’s Bradford campaign office on April 23.

11 110 380

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Canadian Health Coalition/Coalition canadienne de la santé @cdnhealthcoalition.bsky.social · Apr 11

🚨You don't want to miss this webinar.

Dr. Danielle Martin — who made global headlines with her powerful testimony before the U.S. Senate — joins us Tuesday April 15, at 12:00 pm EST to discuss the future of Canada’s health care.
#cdnpoli #elxn45

www.healthcoalition.ca/health-care-...

Health care challenges in Canada and opportunities for federal leadership: A special election webinar with Dr. Danielle Martin

Join Dr. Danielle Martin for an online conversation with the Canadian Health Coalition’s Anne Lagacé Dowson

www.healthcoalition.ca

6 8

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · Apr 10

What a treat to work with the awesome Linda Silas of @cfnu.bsky.social on this article in @nationalpost on the economic importance of health care: nationalpost.com/sponsored/no.... Health care isn't just a cost, it's an economic engine. And it will help defend our economy against Trump. #canlab

Now’s the time to maximize the economic potential of public health care

Canadians are rallying around a renewed sense of national identity in the face of Donald Trump’s erratic and aggressive threats.

nationalpost.com

1 15 24

Canadian Doctors For Medicare @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social · Apr 11

"I had been privileged. I had always taken health coverage for granted, and now my daughter's life depended on it.

It was the moment I realized: Canada's health-care system isn't truly universal — not until #pharmacare is part of it."
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

FIRST PERSON | My baby girl almost died. That's why national pharmacare will decide my vote | CBC News

Scott MacMillan was relieved when doctors were able to save the life of his daughter, Rosemary, who was in diabetic ketoacidosis. But when the hospital staff asked about insurance, he was filled with ...

www.cbc.ca

1 2 10

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Danyaal Raza @danyaalraza.com · Apr 10

“Ontario, Ms. Mackett’s home province, is among the jurisdictions that have yet to sign a deal.”

www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/fed...

For people living with diabetes, the push for medical coverage isn’t political, it’s personal

Advocates for publicly funded coverage say there are detrimental and deadly health consequences for patients who cannot afford prescribed medications

www.theglobeandmail.com

1 3 13

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Andrew Longhurst 🇨🇦 🍉 @alonghurst.bsky.social · Apr 4

New Edmonton Journal op-ed

“Analysis of publicly available data, found no evidence to support Premier Smith’s claim. In fact, the research shows the opposite to be true.

Someone has been receiving more funding & not delivering results—just not AHS.”

edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...

Opinion: Attack on AHS reveals the failings of surgery privatization

While politically convenient to blame AHS, responsibility for surgical wait times sits squarely with the government.

edmontonjournal.com

6 93 160

Canadian Doctors For Medicare @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social · Apr 1

"We must hold him accountable to improving the health of all Ontarians. It is time for our provincial leadership to take action."
Board members Ibrahim Mohammad & Jacky Lee urge Premier Ford to sign the #Pharmacare bilateral agreement.
healthydebate.ca/2025/03/topi...

With skyrocketing cost of living, now is the time for Ontario to opt into pharmacare - Healthy Debate

With the cost of living skyrocketing in Ontario, our patients continue to make difficult decisions – whether to pay for food, rent or medications.

healthydebate.ca

1 4 18

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Danyaal Raza @danyaalraza.com · Mar 31

"Yet, all we’ve heard from Ontario is that the province can’t commit to sign on until it knows more."

healthydebate.ca/2025/03/topi... via @healthydebate.bsky.social @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social

With skyrocketing cost of living, now is the time for Ontario to opt into pharmacare - Healthy Debate

With the cost of living skyrocketing in Ontario, our patients continue to make difficult decisions – whether to pay for food, rent or medications.

healthydebate.ca

2 10

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Andrew Longhurst 🇨🇦 🍉 @alonghurst.bsky.social · Mar 26

If you're interested in the future of public health care in Canada, you won't want to miss this webinar.

Alberta is on the forefront of for-profit surgical outsourcing, and five years of data show costs and wait times have ballooned

Investors are cashing in, but the public is paying a big price

Andrew Longhurst 🇨🇦 🍉 @alonghurst.bsky.social · Mar 25

Against a backdrop of surgical contract corruption allegations rocking Alberta, my new Parkland Institute report provides timely, data-driven analysis of the Alberta Surgical Initiative after five years.

Join us!

Mar 26, 12-1 MST

Registration: ualberta-ca.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

#abpoli #ableg

Alberta's surgical crisis: private profits, public losses
Parkland Institute Report Launch Webinar
march 26, 2026, 12pm-1pm MST

1 24 34

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Canada Healthwatch 🍁 @canadahealthwatch.ca · Mar 25

I traded my U.S. medical career for life in Canada. Here’s how the two health systems stack up. canadahealthwatch.ca/2025/03/25/i... @codeblackamerica.bsky.social

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: CanadaHealthwatch.ca/newsletter 🍁

I traded my U.S. medical career for life in Canada. Here’s how the…

The differences hit me immediately, and are profound.

canadahealthwatch.ca

32 360 690

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Andrew Longhurst 🇨🇦 🍉 @alonghurst.bsky.social · Mar 26

“For-profit providers are being paid inflated prices to deliver the easiest, most profitable procedures at the expense of our public hospitals. The consequence is what we’re seeing in cancer surgical care. You’re seeing those wait times balloon...and they have very real effects on people’s lives.”

The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · Mar 26

Alberta public health system losing staff, funding as province increases spending on private facilities

Analysis shows provincial spending on private surgical facilities increased nearly three-fold in 2023-24 from 2019-20, while spending in public facilities increased marginally

www.theglobeandmail.com

2 23 49

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Andrew Longhurst 🇨🇦 🍉 @alonghurst.bsky.social · Mar 20

Join me for the launch of my new report “Operation Profit: Private Surgical Contracts Deliver Higher Costs and Longer Waits”

The report evaluates the performance and costs of the Alberta Surgical Initiative after five years

Registration: ualberta-ca.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli

Alberta's Surgical Crisis: Private Profits, Public Losses
Parkland Institute Report Launch Webinar
March 26, 2025, 12pm-12pm MST
Public launch of the report "Operation Profit: Private Surgical Contracts Deliver Higher Costs and Longer Waits"
Featuring report author Andrew Longhurst

3 93 170

Reposted by Canadian Doctors For Medicare

Edward Xie @edwardxie.bsky.social · Mar 9

“We’re in a time of elbows up, so hopefully we link arms” - Ryan Meili

Canadian Doctors For Medicare @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social · Mar 8

Dr. Ryan Meili kicks off #CDMSummit2025 with his experience as both a frontline physician and an MLA in Saskatchewan
#BetterMedicare

1 2 10

Canadian Doctors For Medicare @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social · Mar 8

Dr. David Urbach ending a great summit with a talk on tangible solutions to fixing our health care wait times.
#CDMSummit2025
#BetterMedicare

1 6

Canadian Doctors For Medicare @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social · Mar 8

We're sounding the alarm on the threat of private equity within our health care system
@edwardxie.bsky.social
@armineyalnizyan.bsky.social
Dr. Henry Annan
Matthew Tracey
#CDMSummit2025
#BetterMedicare

1 7 20

Canadian Doctors For Medicare @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social · Mar 8

@docmcohen.medsky.social speaks about her experience as a rural family physician and the need to consider rural and remote communities in primary care reform
#CDMSummit2025
#BetterMedicare

4 13