Government & Policy

OTTAWA – The Digital Health Interoperability Task Force released its recommendation report which identifies and addresses systemic barriers to the implementation of interoperable digital health solutions, including five core recommendations to improve adoption and use. Read More

TORONTO – At a time when 2.5 million Ontarians are without a family doctor, the provincial government has appointed Dr. Jane Philpott (pictured) to serve as chair and lead a new primary care action team with a mandate to connect every person in Ontario to primary healthcare within the next five years. Read More

TORONTO – Ontario’s doctors recommend immediate steps that the provincial government should take to stop the crisis in the healthcare system. The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) launched their Stop the Crisis initiative to direct government attention and investment towards six priority areas: Read More

TORONTO – Maple, a leading virtual healthcare platform, has released a new report revealing that 50 percent of Canadians delay seeking medical advice, even when faced with health concerns. Moreover, 81 percent of Canadians said they faced barriers to proactive care, with women more likely to report previous negative experiences with healthcare practitioners and feeling dissuaded from seeking care. Read More

WHITEHORSE, Yukon – The Yukon wants to come up with a 30-year strategic capital plan to develop the territory’s health system, given the need to look at the Yukon’s current health and social care infrastructure to make sure there’s enough physical space and facilities to provide care for a growing, aging population. Read More

VANCOUVER – British Columbia’s healthcare system has become a major issue ahead of the provincial election on Oct. 19 – like other provinces, it is grappling with a shortage of medical professionals, frequent short-term closures of emergency rooms and hundreds of thousands of residents who don't have a family doctor. Read More

HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government is spending $42 million over five years to help improve access to health information through Google Cloud’s search tools and artificial intelligence. The province said that three projects are in the works. Read More

OTTAWA – The Canadian Medical Association has released a new report to compare the bilateral health funding agreements signed between the provinces/territories and the federal government. Prepared by Deloitte, the analysis dives deeper on the best approach to ensure the new funds are strategically managed to benefit all Canadians. Given the complexities of each agreement, the report concludes there must be a greater commitment to tracking improvements to healthcare delivery and patient outcomes in Canada. Read More

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia Health has entered into a new partnership with Google Cloud to implement three digital solutions that will harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the patient and clinician experience. “We must try new solutions to the challenges we face – that’s what our healthcare plan calls for,” said Premier Tim Houston (pictured). “This partnership will empower Nova Scotians, reduce administrative work for doctors and make diagnosing illness easier.” Read More

AIRDRIE, AB – Alberta Health is currently exploring a proposed “campus” in the city of Airdrie that would see a “one-stop shop” built that aims to serve most healthcare needs in the municipality located north of Calgary. The proposal comes from a private company called One Health Associate Medical. Read More