Good morning, Other Siders!

Happy August 30th—a day that's sandwiched between "Why is summer ending?" and "When did fall sneak up?" Let's not let the calendar confusion distract us from the blazing-hot topics in Canadian healthcare. Speaking of blazing, we're sending all our love and support to those affected by the wildfires across Canada —absolutely heartbreaking. 💔 

On a lighter note, we've got some sizzling (not burning, promise!) insights to share with you about healthcare from coast to coast and beyond. Let's heal some curiosity and sprinkle in some laughter, shall we?

News that impacts you!

🎒🦠 Kids, School & COVID: Uh-Oh!

I hate to say this but brace yourselves for a "Mask-erade Ball"! COVID-19 cases are rising in B.C. and new viral subvariants are like uninvited guests at the party. Protect Our Province B.C. says it's time to up the defence—think masks in schools and better air filters. While we're not in full-on panic mode (most of us have some vaccine love in our veins), those hospitalization numbers have crept up 20% compared to last year.

Should we be playing it extra safe with new, mysterious variants in the picture? What's your take, would you send your kids to school without a mask? 🤔🎒

🏥 💸 Ontario's Back to 75-25!

Ontario's flipping the script on public health funding—again! Health Minister Sylvia Jones says they're now encouraging public health units to merge by offering them a financial incentive.

Why? To streamline roles and make healthcare more efficient, duh! They're also undoing past funding cuts and returning to that good ol' 75-25 cost-sharing formula with municipalities. It's like taking a trip back in time but with better healthcare aims.

🌡️ Tale of Two Healthcares

A new study from the Public Health Agency of Canada is raising the alarm bells on health care inequities for off-reserve First Nations, Metis, and Inuit women. We're talking worse mental health, more chronic diseases, and longer waits for primary care compared to non-Indigenous women. Ugh, it’s 2023, folks! Is systemic racism playing the villain again? Or is it our complex history? Either way, time for a healthcare glow-up, don't you think? So, when will equitable health care stop being a buzzword and start being a reality in Canada? 🤔

💭Let us know what you think by writing to us at [email protected]

Tools & Tech to Keep a Tab On!

Quebec's $3B Healthcare Tech Adventure! 🚀🏥

Quebec's diving into a digital health revolution! The province just shook hands with Epic Systems Corp, a Wisconsin-based tech whiz, to build a digital health record system. The first phase hits the stage as a pilot project in 2024. Minister Christian Dubé's all smiles, calling it a leap towards efficient healthcare. Dubé wants this system to make paperwork vanish and data share like magic among healthcare pros.

The budget's no joke – up to a whopping $3 billion! 🤑 They're aiming for a smoother patient info flow and fewer admin headaches. Dubé's even calling in an "external advisor" to help, which might tug the project timeline a bit.

🧠 🩺 Much Needed Improvement in Access to Mental Health Specialists

Remember those scenes from sci-fi movies where people talk with their minds? Well, it's getting real. Imagine not being able to speak for 18 years, and suddenly having a convo about Blue Jays baseball. That's Ann's journey, folks!

Ann, who faced a brainstem stroke at 30, is part of a study that's flipping the script for paralysis. With electrodes and AI, her thoughts are transformed into speech by an online avatar. No more spelling out words letter by letter. The latest research, just out in Nature, is like giving the "voiceless" a microphone. Although it's not perfect (yet), the breakthrough is a game-changer for people with speech difficulties due to brain injuries or conditions like ALS.

Evolving Global Health

🇿🇦 Pharmacists Fight HIV & TB

You know HIV and tuberculosis, those two big infectious disease troublemakers? Well, South African pharmacists are stepping up to the plate, ready to prescribe meds for both!

Hold on, hold on – this is a big deal because up until now, only the doctors had the prescription power. But guess what? The high court gave the nod to a plan that lets registered chemists treat patients. That's right, your friendly neighbourhood pharmacists are getting in on the action.

Why is this such a win? Well, not only does it mean more folks can get the care they need, but it's also going to make it more affordable. And trust me, in a country where HIV is a heavy hitter (almost one in five people living with it globally call South Africa home), and tuberculosis isn't holding back either (over 300,000 cases in 2021), this change is like sending in the reinforcements.

🇮🇳 Town or City: Care Everywhere! 🏙️

Apollo Hospitals in India are taking healthcare to a whole new level with their Apollo Connect program. They're spreading their wings all over India to create a top-notch healthcare network. They're basically creating a healthcare dream team, linking up hospitals all across the country, from bustling cities to the quietest towns.

Imagine having top-notch medical services, like virtual ICUs, diagnostics, and even surgical advice, available wherever you are! Apollo's got it all covered. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, the big boss at Apollo, put it beautifully:

And Dr. Sangita Reddy, the magic-maker behind the scenes, is all about making quality healthcare a reality for everyone, no matter where you're located.

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