OMA’S RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE ONTARIO’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Adam Kassam, President of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) followed by family physicians Dr. Sohail Gandhi and Dr. Michelle Cohen..

The OMA has released a five-point plan of recommendations for improving the province’s healthcare system. One of the critical issues it points to is the existing backlog of services. And, other improvements it would like to see is in the expansion of mental health and addictions programs, home care and community care, and strengthening the system’s preparedness against future pandemics. Libby and our medical guests weigh in on these recommendations and answer key questions like how these initiatives might be rolled out and the associated costs involved.

PROVINCE TO HIRE ADDITIONAL INSPECTORS FOR LTC HOMES 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Lisa Levin, CEO of AdvantAge Ontario and Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO).

This week, Ontario Minister of long-term care Rod Phillips announced plans to hire additional inspectors at homes and to give them the power to lay charges on the spot in efforts to better protect residents. Here are the specifics: the province will be funding the hire of 193 new inspectors at a cost of $20-million. It’s part of a plan to double the amount of inspectors in the sector by the fall of 2022. Our guests today weigh in on whether this initiative is enough.

BC’S BOOSTER SHOT CAMPAIGN 

Libby Znaimer is joined by  Dr. Iris Gorfinkel, a family physician and founder of PrimeHealth Clinical Research as well as Dr. Timothy Sly, an epidemiologist and professor at the school of Occupational and Public Health at Ryerson University.

This week it was announced that the province of BC will be going ahead with plans to offer booster shots to its population. Starting in January, if you are double vaccinated, you can sign up for your third if you’ve had your second at least six months prior. Our health experts weigh in on the latest news and what we’re seeing from booster shot campaigns in other jurisdictions like the U.S. and Israel.