Hot off the Press

How much have you paid for private health care?

November 26, 2025 - CDM Past Chair Dr. Danyaal Raza was interviewed on CBC Listen, highlighting the threat of for-profit health care in Ontario and nationally in light of developments coming out of Alberta.

Bill introduced to allow doctors to practice in both the private and public sectors

November 24, 2025 - CDM Board Member Dr. Edward Xie was interviewed by CBC Radio-Canada on the introduction of Bill 11 in Alberta, where he emphasized: "There is a limited number of doctors, so if it is permitted to practice in the private system, waiting times in the public system will be longer and reorganized according to the patient's ability to pay."

Alberta’s hybrid health-care plan breaks the spirit—and likely the law—of Canadian Medicare

November 24, 2025 - CDM Policy Advisor Karen Palmer published this op-ed in The Hill Times, explaining how the proposed changes in Alberta will create a slower, second-class system for patients who cannot afford to pay.

Private health-care linked to poorer outcomes

November 20, 2025 - CDM Chair Dr. Melanie Bechard was interviewed by CBC News, reinforcing the findings of a new report, 'Mortality and health care privatization: A comparison between countries', and emphasizing that private-pay options reorganize wait lists for those who can pay rather than shorten them.

Private-pay medical testing is no solution to wait times

November 13, 2025 - CDM Member Dr. Thara Kumar and Vice Chair Dr. Bernard Ho wrote this op-ed expressing serious concerns about Alberta’s announcement that new legislation will permit Albertans to pay out of pocket or use private supplemental insurance for any diagnostic screening they want, such as MRIs, CT scans, full body scans, and blood work.

I was recruited to join a private health centre as a doctor. Here is why I said no

November 10, 2025 - Dr. Danyaal Raza warns about the rise of private pay primary care clinics, which offer high salaries to family doctors while shrinking their patient rosters from roughly 1,200 to 500, and charge patients upwards of $4,000 each year.

Carney’s first budget is asking the wrong Canadians to make sacrifices

November 10, 2025 - Dr. Danyaal Raza writes that the gap between the rich and the poor in Canada is at its highest level ever measured, yet the new federal budget is aiming to squeeze more from individuals and already-struggling sectors while paving the way for higher corporate profits and greater wealth concentration.

Carney government is silent on prospect of pharmacare deals for provinces like Ontario

July 30, 2025 - CDM Past Chair Dr. Danyaal Raza was interviewed for this story by Raisa Patel, raising concerns about Carney’s commitment to Pharmacare in light of the hesitation to take even small steps forward with the current program.

COMMENTARY: Doctors urge premier not to leave pharmacare money on table

Dr. Cathy Cervin and Ayah Awadah co-authored an article urging Nova Scotia to sign on to the Pharmacare agreement with the Federal government. At a time when many in the province are facing job losses due to tariffs and economic uncertainty, tying drug coverage to employment status can have serious consequences.

Amid trade war, we must protect and defend our health-care system

May 15, 2025 - CDM Board Member Dr. Andriy Katyukha published an article warning that Canada’s public health care system remains vulnerable to large-scale privatization efforts backed by the Trump administration and its corporate allies. Beyond the push for investor-owned for-profit private clinics, there are concerns that the U.S. may seek to restrict access to affordable generic medications and pressure Canada to weaken its privacy and data protection laws, enabling U.S. corporations to profit from the sale of Canadians’ health data.

Your private health care records may be sold as privatization increases in Ontario

May 13, 2025 - CDM Past-Chair Dr. Danyaal Raza published an article in the Toronto Star highlighting the troubling rise of for-profit chains of primary care clinics and the serious risks associated with the commercialization of patient data. These companies hold patient data valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, with brand-name pharmaceutical companies among the largest purchasers. Dr. Raza calls on legislators and regulators to take action in response to the findings of a recent JAMA Network study, “The Primary Care Medical Record Industry in Canada and Its Data Collection and Commercialization Practices.”

Millions of Canadians' health data available for sale to pharmaceutical industry, study shows

May 9, 2025 - CDM Past-Chair Dr. Danyaal Raza was interviewed by CBC News about a recent study published in the JAMA Network, which found that private companies are selling patient data to pharmaceutical firms. The study highlights how a network of health data brokers, physicians, for-profit primary care chains, and pharmaceutical companies work together to collect and monetize patient information—turning health data into commercial assets.

How Donald Trump’s tariffs threaten Canadians’ access to prescription drugs

May 4, 2025 - CDM Board Member Dr. Joel Lexchin published an article warning that U.S. tariffs on Canada and China could drive up drug prices, increase unemployment, and make prescription medications even more difficult to access. However, he emphasizes that implementing and expanding the National Pharmacare program could provide critical relief for Canadians, strengthen the health care system, and deliver important economic benefits for the country.

AI offers opportunity for better Indigenous health care

April 30, 2025 - CDM Board Member Dr. Jarol Boan co-authored this op-ed highlighting how the Virtual Health Hub in Saskatchewan has adopted a “two-eyed seeing approach” for the development of AI-driven health-care solutions in Indigenous communities. For example, they have incorporated meaningful, collaborative partnerships with Indigenous communities and organizations, ensuring that processes are culturally informed.

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.