The Santis team shares its insights on the key sectors and factors driving decisions and change in the health care and life sciences sector across Canada.
Update on Next Steps for Ontario Health Teams
On July 18, 2019, the Minister of Health and representatives from the Ministry of Health hosted a webinar about the next steps in the development of Ontario Health Teams. From the 157 self-assessments the Ministry received in May, they have identified four categories: proceeding to full application, in development, in discovery and innovative models.
Read MorePremier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine releases its second report
On June 25, 2019, the Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine released its second report. Entitled “A Healthy Ontario: Building a Sustainable Health Care System,” is a follow-up to the first report that was released January 2019. The first report identified the main challenges facing Ontario’s health care system, whereas today’s highlights 10 recommendations to move forward with actionable deliverables for the government’s consideration.
Read MorePremier Ford makes significant changes to cabinet one year into his term
On June 20, 2019, Premier Doug Ford shuffled his cabinet and added five new Associate Ministers to the mix. Christine Elliott has retained her position as Deputy Premier and a slightly revised title as Minister of Health, losing the long-term care file.
Read MoreHoskins Report Recommends Single-Payer Universal Pharmacare Plan
Rather than a “fill in the gaps” model, the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare has recommended an expansive pharmacare regime that would replace existing public and private insurance plans with a single national framework.
Read MoreB.C. Introduces Long-Awaited Biosimilars Switching Policy
British Columbia’s Minister of Health, Adrian Dix, announced a series of policy changes yesterday designed to reduce the cost of biologic drugs and expand access to new medicines. These goals will be accomplished through the “Biosimilars Initiative,” a policy framework unveiled Monday morning that will transition most of the 20,000+ patients in B.C. currently receiving an originator biologic medicine to one of its biosimilars.
Read MoreFord Government Tables First Fiscal Budget Amidst Period of Health Care Transformation
On Thursday, April 11, 2019, Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli introduced the Progressive Conservatives’ first budget, ‘Protecting What Matters Most’. The plan is focused on setting a five-year path to a balanced budget while protecting public services such as health care and education. Health and education are the only two departments whose budgets are increasing over the course of this fiscal year.
Read MoreOntario Government Announces Ontario Health Team (OHT) Application Process
On April 3, 2019, the Ontario Government released detailed guidance documents to health care providers interested in becoming an Ontario Health Team (OHT). OHTs are a core component of the government’s efforts to improve the province’s health system performance, and were announced by Christine Elliott, Minister of Health and Long-term Care, at the end of February.
Read MoreINSIGHTS: Federal Budget 2019
On the surface Budget 2019 seeks to reaffirm the Liberal’s narrative of being “defenders of middle-class Canadians” as they head closer to a federal election where that narrative may well be called into question. Below the surface, the Budget is an attempt to shore up support among key demographics.
Read MoreINSIGHTS: The Convergence of Policies: Pharmacare, pCHOs and Drug Pricing
On Wednesday, March 6, 2019, Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor released an interim report on national pharmacare. Joining the two Ministers were members of the Advisory Council on the Implementation of Pharmacare, including its Chair, Dr. Eric Hoskins.
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