Canada Healthwatch: The Weekly Dose
November 6th - November 12th
Welcome to this edition of The Weekly Dose. Today we have some pivotal developments to unpack. Mask mandates are hot again, independent pharmacies are facing significant vaccine hurdles, and Alberta’s policy pendulum takes a big swing. Read on for a brief exploration of these and other issues.
Toronto pharmacist ending vaccination program over critical supply issues
Toronto pharmacist Kyro Maseh will cease offering flu and COVID vaccines due to severe supply issues, leading to significant disruptions, the need for patient triaging, and many cancelled appointments.
Why it's important: Maseh’s decision reflects a larger struggle faced by Ontario pharmacists amid this year's vaccine rollout. This issue is impacting public health efforts, particularly in high-risk patient groups, and it’s also raising questions.
Maseh says he received incomplete or significantly reduced vaccine shipments, forcing him to turn away dozens of patients, daily. This year, Ontario shifted its distribution strategy, naming Shoppers Drug Mart as the sole distributor of publicly funded vaccines. The decision placed Shoppers in the position of distributing vaccines to their independently-owned competitors, who rely on the foot-traffic generated by vaccine appointments to boost business during vaccine season.
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10% of Quebec health workers affected by long COVID, study (Translated)
Preliminary data from a Quebec study of over 23,000 healthcare workers reveals that 10% suffer from long COVID, with a third of those experiencing severe symptoms, significantly impacting their work capabilities.
Why it's important: In the face of our ongoing healthcare staffing crisis, this should really be a wake up call.
Findings from the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec suggest a significant portion of health workers are struggling with persistent symptoms, notably fatigue and shortness of breath, long after their initial COVID infection. This not only affects workers’ health, but also their ability to work. The fact that these symptoms are prevalent among those infected with the Omicron variant, post-vaccination, indicates a set of challenges we aren’t prepared for. The absence of therapeutics and lack of awareness among medical professionals exacerbates the issue.
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An abrupt pivot for Alberta Health: Smith's plan
Danielle Smith announced a major restructuring of Alberta Health Services (AHS), detractors are raising questions about both the reforms’ effectiveness and potential for increased privatization.
Why it's important: The reforms signal a tectonic shift for Alberta's healthcare, one that will likely impact both patients and the role of private entities.
The plan to dismantle AHS and establish separate organizations for different health care functions marks a dramatic departure from the centralized model which came in under Ed Stelmach’s Progressive Conservative government in 2008. Smith says this will create a more patient-centered system, but the move has sparked concerns about creating new sets of bureaucratic complexities and fragmenting care, especially for those requiring multiple services. Opposition parties warn this will pave the way for privatization. While the overhaul aims to address inefficiencies and improve care, the potential for unintended consequences here looms large.
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Mandatory masking returns to Ontario long-term care homes
Ontario re-mandated masks for long-term care amid rising COVID outbreaks, aiming to curb hospitalizations.
Why it's important: The measure reflects ongoing efforts to safeguard high-risk populations in long-term care, emphasizing the persistent threat posed by COVID and other viruses.
Ontario's Ministry of Long-Term Care has implemented mandatory masking for all staff, students, support workers, and volunteers in resident areas of long-term care homes. Recent stats from Public Health Ontario highlight over 5,000 COVID cases among LTC residents with significant numbers of hospitalizations and deaths. Despite vaccination efforts, the risk of simultaneous COVID, flu, and RSV outbreaks remains a serious concern. Compliance with the masking policy is crucial, as observed by family members like Kerri Thompson, who have noticed lapses in adherence among staff, illustrating the importance of maintaining consistency in applying preventive measures to high-risk settings.
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Pilot study of Virtual Care shows it didn’t reduce ER visits
A recent study revealed that virtual urgent care in Ontario did not significantly divert patients from emergency rooms during the study period in 2021, despite expectations.
Why it's important: The study’s outcome indicates challenges in integrating virtual care effectively into the healthcare system, especially for emergency services.
Published in CMAJ, the study evaluated over 19,000 virtual urgent care visits in Ontario, finding that a significant proportion of patients went to the emergency room shortly after their virtual consultations. While virtual care may offer a semblance of ‘access’ to remote populations, it likely does not address patient needs leading to emergency room visits. The findings also indicate that virtual care predominantly serves younger, urban, and higher-income individuals, often with existing primary care providers. This demographic disparity points to an accessibility-gap for those without technology or stable internet access—a significant issue in rural and remote communities.
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Nurses in Ontario will soon be able to prescribe birth control, smoking cessation and travel meds
Ontario is enabling RNs to independently prescribe certain medications, including birth control, smoking cessation drugs, and travel medications.
Why it's important: The initiative aims to leverage nurses' skills more effectively and improve access to healthcare services. It seems like a positive development on the face of it, but it does raise a couple of key questions.
The change will be in effect next year following the development and rollout of additional certification courses for nurses. The government says this will alleviate healthcare system burden, but to what extent are our current healthcare system woes fueled by people seeking birth control and anti-malaria meds? Consider the stories we saw earlier this fall of NP-run clinics charging membership fees. Since RN services are also not billable under OHIP, this change effectively takes the loophole the NPs in those stories are exploiting and expands it to RNs.
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As we wrap up this week, remember that these stories are just the tip of the iceberg. I'll keep doing my thing and will bring you the latest weekly developments in future editions, but until then, I encourage you to stay informed by checking in with us regularly—and importantly—to keep these important conversations going. Your engagement and awareness are key in shaping a healthier future for all Canadians.
Stay well,
Nick Tsergas
National Health News Editor
Canada Healthwatch
nick@canadahealthwatch.ca | canadahealthwatch.ca