The following is a review of developments affecting health care in CanadaDEAR READER: Ah, Where did the summer go? Hope ya'll had a wonderful, healthy summer and are ready as I am to roll up those sleeves and get back to work. The following are some events that took place from June to August. Welcome back to StratCom's monthly update.
Healthcare in Canada - Summer 2001According to a study - The Canadian Online Health Monitor, some 80% of Canadian adult Internet users surf the Web to gather health information and they are aware that not all sources can be trusted. Many respondents also reported going online to network with other people who have similar conditions. The most popular health sites are those hosted by Health Canada, Yahoo and Canoe. Winsdor, ON's Grace campus of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital, scheduled to be closed in a few years, could be semi-privatized and re-equipped to provide diagnostic services such as CT and MRI scans for patients in the US. The hospital would charge US patients less for equivalent stateside tests because of lower Canadian dollar and health-care costs. This revenue, in turn, could subsidize general hospital capital and operating costs. Minor surgeries could also be done. A recent survey conducted for the Canadian Medical Association reports that Canadians appear willing to allow a greater role for the private sector in Medicare but only if it does not involve user fees for patients. The survey suggests that the public is beginning to conclude the health care system can not ensure all services and the concept of universality will have to be redefined. The survey found that Canadians are strongly attached to the public health system. But they also believe a central solution to the health care problem lies in improving cost controls and increasing efficiency through private entrepreneurs. Twenty radiologists affiliated with McGill University have set up the $10-million clinic, Westmount Square Medical Imaging, to cater to those patients whose needs are not being met by the hospital system. Most of the work will be procedures reimbursed by the Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ), including X-rays, mammography, bone densitometry and barium tests. MRIs, CT and ultrasound scans, which are not reimbursed by RAMQ, will be paid either directly by the patient or by the patient's health insurer. Rates for the paid services will be in line with prices charged by similar clinics: about $100 for ultrasound, $350 for a CT scan and $700 for an MRI. The radiologists expect to serve 50,000 patients a year. The Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories (OAML) has announced that Dr. Karen Harrison of Queen's University has received $34,907.86 from the Research Trust Small Grants Program to conduct research into Molecular Cytogenetic Evaluation of Subtle Duplications Using Fibre FISH. This procedure can be used to precisely identify the chromosomal location of specific genes and DNA sequences.
Healthcare in Canada - May 2001
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