Hot off the Press

Atlantic Canada premiers need to urgently opt in to pharmacare

Dr. Catherine Cervin writes about Nova Scotia’s alarming poverty rate—the highest in Canada—and explains how universal coverage for diabetes medications and devices in Atlantic Canada could ease financial hardship, reduce suffering, and lower health care costs from complications like kidney failure, heart disease, and amputations.

Pharmacare’s future

April 14, 2025 - CDM Past-Chair Dr. Danyaal Raza writes that Mark Carney’s stance on the future of national pharmacare will be a telling indicator of whether he supports public solutions or entrenched private interests.

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

March 30, 2025 - CDM Board Members Jacky Lee and Ibrahim Mohammad published a piece urging the Ontario government to sign onto Bill C-64, as the cost of living continues to soar across the province.

New Canada Health Act interpretation letter misses the mark on virtual care

February 12, 2025 – Drs. Bernard Ho, Monika Dutt, and Chaten Jessel published an op-ed highlighting how private insurance companies are pressuring governments at all levels to exclude employer-funded virtual care from public funding, ensuring that these companies continue to profit from selling or administering plans that include this benefit.

We need virtual care that cares for everyone

January 21, 2025 - Our Past-Chair, Dr. Danyaal Raza, and CDM Member Dr. Sheryl Spithoff published an article on the Healthy Debate highlighting the importance of virtual care in modernizing Medicare. They warn that inaction risks deepening the primary care crisis, growing opportunities for private-pay virtual care in a regulatory and legislative vacuum, and a negative feedback loop that increases costs and worsens quality.

Dr. Danyaal Raza on non-physician professionals billing the public system

January 21, 2025 - Check out this episode of the Redeye, where CDM Past-Chair Dr. Danyaal Raza discusses the Canada Health Act Interpretation Letter. He highlights the historic inclusion of nurse practitioners, midwives, and pharmacists under the Act, while addressing the unresolved issue of virtual care.

Ottawa opens up health plans to pay for necessary care by nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives

January 10, 2025 - CDM's Chair, Dr. Melanie Bechar is interviewed by Kenyon Wallace from the Toronto Star on the release of the Canada Health Act Interpretation Letter. While progress was made in expanding public coverage and eliminating patient charges, virtual care remains unaddressed, leaving patients to pay out-of-pocket or rely on private insurance for online services.

All I want for Christmas is publicly funded health care

December 18, 2024 – CDM’s Vice-Chair, Dr. Bernard Ho, and Policy Advisor, Karen Palmer, published this op-ed emphasizing that we must not let corporations and insurance companies stand in the way of fair access for everyone, including those without employer-funded insurance.

Would you pay to see a family doctor faster? Quebecers are, and critics are worried

November 23, 2024 – Dr. Bernard Ho was interviewed for this episode of “White Coat Black Art” on CBC Radio, warning that patient safety will be at risk if private sector medicine continues to expand in Quebec and across the country.

Don’t have private insurance? You’re still paying for others who do — you deserve better care

November 22, 2024 - Dr. Danyaal Raza published this op-ed highlighting how private workplace insurance is extensively subsidized by the federal government, and all provincial governments except Quebec. He stresses the importance of releasing the Canada Health Act interpretation letter, and ending the billions of dollars in public subsidies for private insurance companies.

A publicly funded virtual care system would benefit us all

October 21, 2024 - Dr. Bernard Ho wrote about how publicly funded virtual care can improve access for all Canadians. Notably, he addresses and debunks the myth that the 10 million Canadians who can access virtual care through their workplace are at risk of losing it.

B.C. election comes at pivotal moment for health care: workers

October 18, 2024 - Dr. Devon Mitchell is featured in a CBC story discussing the BC elections and the future of public health care in the province.

We’re doctors. This is the glaring hole we see in our national health care conversation

October 4, 2024 - Dr. Lexchin and Dr. Gorfinkel outline the long-term benefits of implementing and strengthening Universal Pharmacare, with strong outcomes for patients, the public health care system, and the significant economic advantages for Canada.

As more cataract surgeries move to private clinics, more low-income Ontarians are being left behind, study finds

Toronto Star, August 26, 2024 – Karen Palmer and Dr. Danyaal Raza commented on a recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, further underlining that for-profit surgical centres aren’t going to improve access to care in a way that is fair to everyone.

Insurance and business groups urge health minister to protect employer-paid virtual care

Toronto Star, August 16, 2024 – Dr. Melanie Bechard emphasized that if the Canada Health Act interpretation letter brings virtual or nurse practitioner care under the public umbrella, patients would benefit from improved access and coverage, while only private insurance companies would be negatively impacted.

Procrastination on Canada Health Act interpretation leaves patients with the bill

The Hill Times, August 14, 2024 –Dr. Jarol Boan and Dr. Melanie Bechard authored an op-ed stressing the harmful consequences of delaying the release of the interpretation letter for the Canada Health Act.

Are private health care providers breaking the law? Four doctors speak out on for-profit care in Canada

Toronto Star, August 9, 2024 – Dr. Melanie Bechard and Dr. Danyaal Raza speak out against the rise of for-profit health care, stating that it undermines the public health care system and worsens inequities in access and care.

As for-profit health care expands across Canada, doctors are fighting back

Toronto Star, August 8, 2024 – Dr. Melanie Bechard is quoted in this piece by Kenyon Wallace, emphasizing that "privatization" will not solve problems in the health care system.

The Mike Smyth Show: "Public vs private health care"

(July 24th, 2024): Tune into this interview by Dr. Devon Mitchell, where he shares his insights on the ongoing debate in British Columbia.

Private equity and health care: Should Canadians be concerned?

(July 23rd, 2024): Dr. Danyaal Raza and Karen Palmer published an op-ed questioning the growing interest of private equity investment firms in owning parts of our health care system.

Health minister says he will soon issue guidance clarifying limits for out-of-pocket primary care fees

(July 23rd, 2023): Dr. Danyaal Raza was quoted in a report by Kelly Grant, highlighting the concern that for-profit virtual care companies and private clinics are “putting doctors behind paywalls.”

B.C. Conservatives' health-care plan pitches private clinics

(July 18th, 2024): Dr. Devon Mitchell expresses his concerns about whether private, investor-owned, for-profit clinics can deliver efficient care.

The cost of U.S-based cancer treatment for British Columbians

(July 8th, 2024): Dr. Devon Mitchell was recently interviewed by Katie DeRosa from CBC News. In the interview, he emphasized the importance of patients receiving care through the public system rather than paying out-of-pocket as British Columbia works to build up its capacity.

Pharmacare can't leave children behind

Telegraph Journal (April 27th, 2024): CDM Board Member Dr. Sarah Gander has written an op-ed in the Telegraph-Journal discussing the importance of a comprehensive single-payer pharmacare program for children.

U.S. lawmakers are taking aim at private equity in health care. Here's what is happening in Canada

CBC News (May 6th, 2024): CDM's Policy Advisor, Karen Palmer, and Past-Chair, Dr. Danyaal Raza, were interviewed by Amina Zafar of CBC News about the growing influence of private equity ownership in Canadian health care.

Protecting public health care from private investors

Toronto Star (April 9th, 2024): Dr. Danyaal Raza and Karen Palmer wrote about the growing influence of private equity and the dangers it poses.

National pharmacare bill a good start but much is still missing

Toronto Star (March 6th, 2024) Dr. Edward Xie and Dr. Melanie Bechard published on the importance of maintaining momentum toward a real, comprehensive, single-payer Pharmacare program.

Canadians need to know how much money Big Pharma gives health-care providers, but this information is far too difficult to find

Dr. Joel Lexchin emphasizes the significance of transparency and why it's crucial for us to know how much Big Pharma is paying to health care providers and organizations.