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Health Canada

Canadians Are Paying More to Wait Longer for Newer Drugs

Nadeem Esmail | Posted 05.02.2013 | Canada Politics
Nadeem Esmail

New medicines are a central component of modern medical care. Unfortunately for Canadians, our federal government takes an approach that is slower than others, unnecessarily costly for taxpayers, and is ultimately of questionable benefit to Canadians. Canadian approvals for market access to new drugs take longer than similar approvals in both Europe (under the European Medicines Agency) and the U.S. (under the FDA). Specifically, the median approval time was longer in Canada than in the other jurisdictions in four of the past five years. But would faster approval of new drugs expose us to greater risk? Perhaps.

Health Council Demise 'Just Made Sense'

CBC | Posted 04.17.2013 | Canada Politics

Health Canada is winding down the funding for the Health Council of Canada, the independent body responsible for monitoring the results of the federal...

The Gap Between the Rich and the Poor in Canada Is Bad for our Health

Danyaal Raza | Posted 04.13.2013 | Canada Politics
Danyaal Raza

The gap between rich and poor in Canada is growing. What is indisputable to those of us working in the health care sector is its effect on health of Canadians. Health is a concern common to all, regardless of political affiliation, and does not exist in isolation from this growing problem. Evidence continues to mount that rising income inequality is contributing to the deterioration of the health of all people in Canada, regardless of their income level. As a family doctor who sees the impacts of public policies on the front lines, I find myself nodding in agreement to calls to action. The time for leadership on this issue has come.

Why All Doctors Should Prescribe Tax Returns

Gary Bloch | Posted 03.27.2013 | Canada
Gary Bloch

The link between health and income is solid and consistent -- almost every major health condition has worse outcomes among people who live at lower income. I will continue to advise my patients to exercise more and eat healthier food, but this tax season I will also spend time prescribing tax returns.

Health Canada Warns Against Use Of Thyroid Drug After Fatality

CP | The Canadian Press | Posted 05.07.2013 | Canada Living

TORONTO - Health Canada is warning doctors and consumers that the drug Sensipar should not be used by people under the age of 18.The advice follows wo...

When It Comes to Big Pharma, Health Canada Has No Spine

Michael Kruse | Posted 04.15.2013 | Canada
Michael Kruse

If a company is selling an herb-based drug that they claim cures your cancer, then this is considered a high-risk claim and they must submit high-order evidence. If they do not want to go through this hassle all they have to do to get the drug approved is make a very general health claim; "supports immune-system health" for example.

Why You Shouldn't Trust Homeopathic Vaccines

Michael Kruse | Posted 03.19.2013 | Canada Living
Michael Kruse

While the safety and efficacy of vaccines for childhood infectious diseases is very well established, doubt continues to be sown among well-meaning parents. We need to demand that our government stop speaking out of one side of its mouth about the importance of the modern, science-based immunization schedule, while with the other side approving the sale of useless homeopathic hokum to be promoted as an ineffective alternative. If we do not, we risk a return of deadly childhood diseases like the 100-day cough of pertussis or the deadly, paralytic polio.

Probiotics and Your Gut: A Match Made in Heaven

Jason Tetro | Posted 02.02.2013 | Canada Living
Jason Tetro

2012-05-28-GermGuyBanner.jpg With any luck, we may be able to harness the combined effects of our gut germs and probiotics to create a harmonious and peaceful gut and keep at least one part of our bodies regularly healthy. Now that would be boldly going where no one has gone before.

Osteoporosis Drug Prolia Linked To Thigh Bone Fractures

CP | The Canadian Press | Posted 01.21.2013 | Canada Living

OTTAWA - Health Canada is alerting Canadians that another osteoporosis drug appears to be linked to unusual fractures of thigh bones in a small number...

To Juice Or Not To Juice? Health Canada Warns About Drinking This

CP | The Canadian Press | Posted 12.31.2012 | Canada Living

OTTAWA - With apple season and fall fairs in full swing, Health Canada is reminding people that unpasteurized cider and other fruit juices can sometim...

Health Canada Says US Outbreak Doesn't Affect Canadians

CP | The Canadian Press | Posted 12.30.2012 | Canada Living

OTTAWA - Health Canada says the meningitis outbreak that has claimed at least 25 lives in the United States is not affecting Canada.But it says any Ca...

Let Them Eat Meat! A Quick-Start Guide to Baby-Led Weaning

Andrea Traynor | Posted 12.09.2012 | Canada Living
Andrea Traynor

I was nursing my then eight-month-old who -- until that point -- was an ardent breastfeeder and had been gobbling up baby mush for two months with gusto. Then he started biting me. I turned to Google. I don't recall how many pages upon pages I looked at before stumbling across baby-led weaning. BLW in a nutshell: Baby starts eating once she can sit up unsupported and pick up her own food and put it into her mouth unassisted.

$1M In Fake Pills Seized

CP | Keven Drews, The Canadian Press | Posted 12.04.2012 | Canada British Columbia

VANCOUVER - International organized crime is threatening the health and bank accounts of Canadians who have ordered counterfeit prescriptions online, ...

Are ADHD Meds Safe?

Dr. Kenny Handelman | Posted 11.30.2012 | Canada Living
Dr. Kenny Handelman

A series of investigative articles in the Toronto Star this week bring forward concerns about serious side effects to ADHD medications, in my opinion, the article sensationalizes the risks, and provide no balance by pointing out the hundreds of thousands of kids, teens and adults who have been helped by these medications.

How Canadians Became Mice in a GMO Study

Nydia Dauphin | Posted 11.26.2012 | Canada Politics
Nydia Dauphin

Last week, a ground-breaking study revealed that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) pose a serious threat to our health. Among the obvious stingers of these findings lies the fact that one of the GMO crops used during this study, the Monsanto NK603, has been allowed in the Canadian food system by Health Canada since 2001. How did our government allow us to become the mice of Monsanto's own experiments?

Edited Food Guidelines For Babies Bring In Tofu, Steak

CBC | Posted 11.25.2012 | Canada Living

Six-month-olds can be fed meat, fish, poultry and alternates at every meal, according to Canadian guidelines. "While meat and fish are tra...

Unauthorized Natural Health Remedy Recalled Over Mercury

CBC | Posted 11.19.2012 | Canada Living

An unauthorized natural health product is under recall because it contains mercury and lead levels that are much higher than allowed, Health Canada sa...

Why So Secretive, Health Canada?

CP | Camille Bains, The Canadian Press | Posted 11.10.2012 | Canada Politics

VANCOUVER - Health Canada is so secretive about its inspections of overseas drug-manufacturing plants that Canadians can't be confident their medicati...

Why is Health Canada Still Allowing Quack Medicine to be Sold to Dangerous Psychotics?

Marvin Ross | Posted 10.20.2012 | Canada
Marvin Ross

Alternative medicine may have led to death in the case of Jordan Ramsey in Vancouver. Ramsay murdered his father, Donald Ramsay, and severely injured his mother while in a schizophrenic psychotic state. He had stopped his prescription medication at that time in favour of a vitamin product, Empowerplus ® (EMP). We need to know why it is still for sale now.

Babylicious Crib Fringe Recalled, Called 'Strangulation Hazard' By Health Canada

CP | The Canadian Press | Posted 10.16.2012 | Canada Living

TORONTO - Health Canada has announced a recall of Babylicious-brand crib fringes, saying the products are a strangulation hazard.The fringes attach to...

Why Candy-Coloured Detergent And Kids Don't Mix

CBC | Posted 09.11.2012 | Canada Living

Health Canada has issued an advisory warning parents about the dangers of children eating brightly coloured miniature laundry detergent packets, which...

Health Canada Warns Parents Again Laundry Pods

CP | The Canadian Press | Posted 09.11.2012 | Canada Living

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning parents to keep laundry detergent packs away from small kids after receiving reports of children injesting the colou...

Hold It, New Brunswick

CP | The Canadian Press | Posted 09.10.2012 | Canada Living

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick is suspending its organ donation program for up to two weeks after a Health Canada Inspection found problems with document...

Throw Out Cribs Older Than 10 Years, Health Canada Warns

CP | The Canadian Press | Posted 09.09.2012 | Canada Living

OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising parents and caregivers that cribs more than 10 years old should not be used because they are more likely to have br...

Onslaught Of Dementia Lies Ahead, Health Officials Warned

CBC | Posted 08.26.2012 | Canada Living

The number of cases of dementia is increasing dramatically, and governments around the world are unprepared for it, a health conference in Charlotteto...