Annual autism job fair aims to help seekers, employers connect
Over a thousand people will log on for what’s dubbed the country’s largest autism job fair on Monday — and while one organizer is happy at the turnout, his ultimate…
Severe COVID leads to higher risk of pulmonary fibrosis: research
For Vancouver resident Farrell Eckman, having a long conversation or attending a workout class without breaking into coughs is a major accomplishment. The 50-year-old is one of many people who…
ALS drug pulled from market in Canada, U.S. after failing late-stage clinical trial
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals said Thursday it will withdraw its amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) drug from the market in Canada and the U.S. following its failure in a late-stage clinical trial. The…
The Canadian Dental Care Plan starts next month — but many dentists are reluctant to participate
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is set to start providing coverage next month — but it’s not clear that enough dentists will enrol to provide care to the 1.6…
Medical cannabis hurdles remain in Canada. Here’s why
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you…
Diagnosed with cancer, this Hamilton man didn’t expect to live past 55. The solar eclipse will mark his 60th
On the day of the total solar eclipse, Eric Seidlitz will not only experience the celestial event of a lifetime, but also a birthday he thought he’d never live to…
Wait lists for hip, knee replacements, other priority procedures longer than before pandemic
Patients in all provinces are waiting longer for hip and knee replacements, cancer surgeries and other priority procedures than before the COVID-19 pandemic, national data shows. A report released Thursday…
Eye injuries and car crashes: Some risks that go up during an eclipse and how to prevent harm
The messaging from health officials has been consistent: Don’t look at the sun without proper eye protection, even during an eclipse. However, Dr. Enitan Sogbesan said he’s still expecting patients…
Is milk safe to drink? Can you catch bird flu from beef? What to know about H5N1 cattle outbreaks
Confirmation that a dangerous form of bird flu is circulating among U.S. dairy cattle has raised questions among dairy producers — and consumers — on both sides of the border.…
Now that bird flu is spreading among cows, scientists worry where H5N1 will jump next
On March 25, American officials published an urgent announcement: Dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico were falling sick. The cows had low appetites, and produced less milk than…
N.S. Health expands efforts to get physician assistants into primary care
An effort to place physician assistants with primary care practices around the province takes more work than assigning them to emergency departments, but Nova Scotia health officials believe the move…
What we know — and don’t — about the national school food program
The federal government’s plans to launch a national school food program might have left some people with more questions than answers about how it will actually work. Prime Minister Justin…
Federal government commits to creation of national school food program
The federal government says it will launch a national school food program, hoping to deliver meals to an additional 400,000 children per year. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister…
This boxer is using science to track her brain health, and helping researchers better understand head impacts
Claire Hafner’s chin is tucked in protectively behind her gloves. Just above them, her eyes are laser-focused, looking for an opening. Her arms shoot out like twin pistons, forcing the…
Person diagnosed with bird flu in Texas after contact with cows
A person in Texas has been diagnosed with bird flu, an infection tied to the recent discovery of the virus in dairy cows, health officials said Monday. The patient is…
Can’t find a family doctor? It might be because they’re busy doing other specialties, report finds
If you’re one of the estimated more than six million Canadians who can’t find a family doctor, it might be because they’re focusing on specialty care, the results of a…
In wake of Winnipeg lab scandal, scientists say Canada benefits from new, high-security pathogen lab
Canada will soon have a second laboratory capable of working with the most dangerous pathogens in the world — home to Canada’s Centre for Pandemic Research. It will be the…
Billions in new funding for health care in Ontario budget
Ontario is set to inject billions of new dollars into health care, the budget for the upcoming fiscal year shows. The province said it is investing $2 billion over three…
Pharmacies still paying patients kickbacks, DTES sources say
Frontline workers and community members in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside say some pharmacies are paying its patients kickbacks for prescriptions despite the practice being banned more than a decade ago. CBC…
Despite the harm, young people are using nicotine pouches. Experts say it’s giving them déjà vu
The Dose20:56What do I need to know about recreational nicotine products? Read transcribed audio. They come in brightly-coloured tins with flavours like tropic breeze and berry frost, and in most…
‘This was my last resort,’ Ottawa-area woman says of experimental phage therapy to treat infection
Thea Turcotte believes her life was likely saved by an experimental treatment developed in Winnipeg for a chronic artificial joint infection. “Without this trial, I probably would not be here…
Yes, seasonal allergies are arriving earlier
Allergy causing pollen has been arriving earlier in many parts of Canada in recent years. Researchers say climate change is having an effect on allergy seasons, making them weeks longer…
Ontario nursing unions want staffing agencies phased out after fake nurse worked for 7 months
Ontario nursing associations say the province should phase out health-care staffing agencies if it wants to prevent untrained people from working in places like long-term care homes. The Ontario Nurses’…
Do you need a spring COVID-19 vaccine? Research backs extra round for high-risk groups
New guidelines suggest certain high-risk groups could benefit from having another dose of a COVID-19 vaccine this spring — and more frequent shots in general — while the broader population…
Ontario regulator exploring legal options to address allegations of corporate pressure at pharmacies
The Ontario College of Pharmacists says it’s working with a legal team to explore its options after thousands of pharmacy employees came forward to share “deeply troubling” stories about corporate…
Manitoba reviewing contract after staffing agency fails to bring over any doctors after 8 months
Manitoba’s health minister is examining why a staffing agency has little to show for itself after signing a contract to bring 150 family doctors to the province. Eight months after…
Psychologists seek changes to pilot project aimed at trimming backlog of ADHD, autism testing
A number of Nova Scotia psychologists and psychiatrists are sounding the alarm over a provincial program meant to help address the growing waitlist for autism and ADHD testing, saying the…
A brain injury wrecked my inner calendar but hasn’t stopped me from having the time of my life
This First Person column is written by Sheila Willis, who lives in the northern Alberta hamlet of Smith. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ.…
Agency staff cost Ontario hospitals, LTC homes nearly $1B in 2023
Hospitals and long-term care homes spent nearly $1 billion last year to fill shifts with nurses and personal support workers from private staffing agencies, a Ministry of Health document estimates.…
My teacher opened up about his mental health. What happened next opened my own mind.
CBC Saskatchewan’s Creator Network is a place where young digital storytellers from diverse backgrounds can produce original video content to air on CBC and tell stories through their own lens.…
Ottawa spending nearly $3M in Cat Lake First Nation for temporary nursing station after fire
The federal government is spending nearly $3 million to help get a temporary nursing station up and running in Cat Lake First Nation in northwestern Ontario following a fire earlier…
With inconsistent support for brain injuries in Canada, peer groups are a lifeline
It’s early December and Barb Butler is handing out photocopied, handwritten notes to the group seated in a circle around her with the date and time of the holiday pizza…
Scientists try to unravel the case of 1,300 mysteriously preserved human brains
6:39Scientists try to unravel the case of 1,300 mysteriously preserved human brains Oxford University’s Alexandra Morton-Hayward spends her days surrounded by brains — literally. The undertaker-turned-scientist is trying to unravel…
What to know about the measles vaccine — from who should get one, to how long immunity lasts
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you…
What we know about Princess Catherine’s cancer diagnosis
Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has revealed that she is receiving a preventative course of chemotherapy for an unspecified type of cancer. In a video statement issued on Friday, Catherine…
Long-term care homes and agency didn’t properly check fake nurse’s credentials, Ontario documents show
One long-term care home in Hamilton that hired a fake nurse didn’t properly check her credentials and two other care homes in Ontario didn’t check them at all, according to…
Anti-Black racism addressed in new course for health-care providers
A family doctor who helped create an anti-Black racism course for health professionals says she hopes participants will “unlearn” long-standing discriminatory practices that contribute to inequitable care for a vulnerable…
Stripped of dignity, $22 left after rent — stories emerge as Ontario sued for halting basic income pilot
Tracey Crosson says she ate healthier, slept better and had more energy when she was receiving basic income payments from the Ontario government. Now, she’s left with $22 every month…
Woman says she had to wait for ER to open as husband had seizure
A Prince Rupert woman says emergency room closures plaguing the British Columbia port city forced her to make an “impossible” choice when her husband had a severe epileptic seizure early…
Surge in fatal suspected overdoses as potent synthetic opioids found in unregulated drug supply: TPH
Health officials are warning of a surge in suspected overdose deaths in Toronto as two powerful synthetic opioids were recently found in the unregulated drug supply. Toronto Public Health (TPH)…
Salmonella infections across Canada linked to snakes and their rodent feed
An ongoing outbreak of salmonella infections in eight provinces is linked to snakes and rodents used to feed them, the Public Health Agency of Canada says. As of March 19,…
This Telus offshoot only covers certain drugs for its employees if they come from its own pharmacy
Employees of the health services offshoot of Telus Communications are only reimbursed for certain drug prescriptions if they fill them through the company’s own virtual pharmacy, CBC News has learned.…
5-year study finds no brain abnormalities in ‘Havana Syndrome’ patients
An array of advanced tests found no brain injuries or degeneration among U.S. diplomats and other government employees who suffer mysterious health problems once dubbed “Havana syndrome,” researchers reported Monday.…
We all experience stress. How we handle it is key to our health, say experts
The Dose24:36What’s the connection between stress and my health and well-being? Read transcribed audio It could be a morning traffic jam. A deadline at work. A conflict with a family…
The butt of jokes: I’m a comedian who is paid to get dozens of rectal exams
This First Person column is written by Devon Flynn, who lives in Prince George, B.C. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ. I’m hunched over…
Canada heading toward major measles outbreak without vaccine boost, new modelling suggests
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you…
Meet the GlamourGals: These med students spend their free time painting seniors’ nails
White Coat Black Art26:30Manicures by med students The seniors at a Waterloo, Ont., retirement residence are feeling great — and looking it, too — thanks to a group of medical…
Edmonton hospital patient had been hoping for a care home. He wound up at a hotel instead
An Edmonton family is frustrated and upset after a 62-year-old man who had been in hospital with care needs was sent to stay at a hotel. Blair Canniff had been…
6 Ontario LTC providers face class action lawsuits for alleged gross negligence during pandemic
Class action lawsuits against six of Ontario’s largest for-profit long-term care (LTC) home providers, claiming gross negligence that led to illnesses and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been allowed…
Shoppers Drug Mart says it doesn’t have medication review targets, but records show it does
In January, a Shoppers Drug Mart district manager in Ontario wrote to store owners in his area to express “deep disappointment” in their performance during the first week of 2024.…
B.C. patients worry as breast cancer screening wait times climb
Over the course of her life, Marliese Dawson, now 51, has seen five family members get diagnosed with breast cancer. So since her mid-30s, Dawson has been diligent about undergoing…
As a caregiver, I was rarely invited to funerals. Still, I mourned deeply from a distance
This is a First Person column by Lana Cullis, who lives in Powell River, B.C. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, see the FAQ. The big hand on…
Health service in England curtails puberty blockers for minors
Children in England will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers at gender identity clinics, according to the country’s National Health Service (NHS). In a policy document released Tuesday, the NHS…
Is extending life by weeks worth the toll some cancer drugs take? Doctors push for ‘common-sense oncology’
Tom Somerville’s decision to stop medical treatment for his end-stage cancer was a personal one. Somerville, 62, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021 that later spread to his liver.…
Amid rise in cannabis-induced psychosis, mental health program in Windsor gets young people early help
Tegan Rose’s job involves going into the community to support people aged 14 to 35 who have been in a state of psychosis for what’s believed to be the first…
Want more family doctors in Ontario? Pay them better, say physicians
As the number of people across Ontario without a family doctor reaches a record high, Premier Doug Ford’s government is facing a fresh push to make family practice more attractive…
How Alberta’s proposed trans youth rules fit into a polarized international landscape
It’s been a little more than a month since the Alberta government announced a planned fall rollout of legislation focused around top and bottom surgeries, puberty blockers, hormone therapies and…
How nurse navigators guide patients through a difficult cancer diagnosis
When Lynda Lau Liebrecht was first diagnosed with breast cancer, everything she read was telling her about the importance of urgency. She wanted to know more about her diagnosis and…
Montreal doctors develop a virtual reality tool that could save children’s lives
Montreal researchers have developed a virtual reality “emergency room,” that can be used to train doctors in Canada and around the world in saving the lives of children who have…
N.S. midwives push for more funded positions as demand grows for their services
The group that represents Nova Scotia’s midwives say demand for their services has been on the rise for years, but that hasn’t been reflected in provincial funding. The province currently…
Nurse shortage prompts state of emergency in Pimicikamak Cree Nation
A northern Manitoba First Nation declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon, owing to a nursing shortage officials in the community described as a crisis. Pimicikamak Cree Nation — also…
If you witness a cardiac arrest, your actions could save a life. Here’s what to do
The Dose18:33What do I need to know about cardiac arrest? Read transcribed audio A cardiac arrest can happen at any time to almost anyone, and experts say the actions of…
Lawsuit claiming Flo Health app shared intimate data with Facebook greenlit as Canadian class action
A Canadian class-action lawsuit accusing a popular fertility tracking app of sending users’ intimate health information — including details about their periods, sex lives and pregnancies — to companies like…
This disease is spiking in an Ontario city. But there’s a vaccine — if you can afford it
Can you put a price on protecting your children from a potentially deadly meningitis-causing bacterial infection? Right now, it’s about $320 per child, unless you happen to have private insurance,…
B.C. artist fears losing vision amid specialists’ fee dispute
Every four weeks, 45-year-old Christina Watts visits her retinal specialist to receive an eye injection, a treatment she says has helped slow her vision loss. But now she’s worried a…
NDP calls on government to fund school lunch program in upcoming budget
The NDP is calling on the federal government to announce a national school lunch program in the upcoming federal budget, to be released on April 16. The party says a…
These unclaimed dead bodies are stuck in limbo in freezers outside the Health Sciences Centre
These freezer containers, holding about 28 bodies at last count, sit in an alley between the Janeway children’s hospital and Memorial University’s school of medicine. (Danny Arsenault/CBC) A smattering of…
Health Canada clarifies eligibility for seniors under national dental care plan
The federal government has posted updated information online on who is eligible for Canada’s national dental care plan. The additional details come after seniors raised concerns about whether their existing…
Sask. announces creation of breast health centre in Regina, expansion of screening eligibility
The Saskatchewan government says it will create a breast health centre in Regina and expand screening eligibility to improve wait times in the province. Health Minister Everett Hindley made the…
10 measles cases identified in Quebec, 7 in Montreal, public health officials say
Quebec’s public health director is asking Quebecers to make sure they and their children are properly vaccinated against the measles, as cases of the virus are on the rise in…
Conservative accuses Liberals of shutting down debate on Winnipeg lab security breach
A Conservative MP is accusing the Liberals of shutting down debate on how two scientists studying deadly viruses at a special lab in Winnipeg were able to work closely and…
Everything you need to know about protecting yourself against measles
The Dose26:47How can I protect myself and my kids from measles? Measles cases are on the rise around the world — including countries with ready access to vaccines. Here in…
Disability culture is something you are a part of — not something that is happening to you
This column is an opinion by John Loeppky, a disabled artist and freelance writer/editor in Saskatoon. It’s part of a series called Taking a Sitting Stand about disability issues. You…
This nurse says she’s still suffering from a concussion a year after attack at hospital entrance
White Coat Black Art26:29Nursing as occupational hazard A Manitoba nurse who took a man to court following an alleged assault about a year ago at the hospital where she works…
Universal diabetes drug coverage could be ‘life-changing’: doctor
Raman Kumar says a federal plan to cover diabetes medications and supplies would be “phenomenal” because she’ll finally stop worrying about how to pay for her care. “It’s so expensive,”…
Lies and scandal: How two rogue scientists at a secret lab triggered a national security calamity
A high-security lab. Ebola. A mysterious package. The Chinese military. The release earlier this week of hundreds of documents related to the dismissal of two scientists — Dr. Xiangguo Qiu…
B.C. sets nurse-to-patient ratios for 6 areas of hospital care
British Columbia’s Ministry of Health has established nurse-to-patient ratios that will be used in hospitals across the province to improve workload standards. The new standards set the minimum number of…
York Region Public Health investigating adult case of measles with ‘unknown’ infection source
York Region Public Health (YRPH) is investigating a confirmed case of measles where the source of infection is “unknown.” In a news release Thursday evening, the public health agency says…
Ottawa unveils national pharmacare plan that covers diabetes, contraception to start
Health Minister Mark Holland released the long-awaited details of the federal government’s pharmacare plan on Thursday, with a commitment to cover some diabetes treatments and contraception. If the bill, C-64,…
The pharmacare bill is coming today — here’s what you need to know
The Liberal government is expected to table its pharmacare legislation today — possibly the biggest expansion of publicly funded health care in Canada in decades. Because Canada is the only…
Opposition to vaccination among parents grows, poll suggests
A growing number of Canadian parents say they are opposed to vaccinating their children, according to a new poll, amid a resurgence in potentially deadly diseases such as measles. The…
One hospital’s push to bring genetic cancer testing to more Black women
Breast cancer tends to hit Black women at younger ages and be more aggressive, but they’re underrepresented when it comes to genetic screening, say doctors launching a new awareness campaign.…
Halifax’s fitness industry has rebounded from COVID-19 lockdowns
When she begins a yoga class at her north-end Halifax studio, Tori Jarvis Grant still sets up a camera so students can follow along at home with those attending in…
Her mom’s lung cancer was caught too late. It’s part of a pattern in Nunavik
Nearly 17 years after her mother’s death, Natasha Ita MacDonald, from Kuujjuarapik in northern Quebec, still wonders if she could have survived. Louisa Tuckatuck MacDonald, died at 57, just seven…
Stephen’s story: ‘He might be here today if he would have had a safer supply’
Brenda and Richard Gaunt’s first child, Stephen, was an active and inquisitive toddler, prone to follow his curiosity quite literally wherever it led him. “He’d run out the door and…
Health P.E.I.’s new mental health and addictions ER expected to be ‘game changer’
Health P.E.I. staff and patients are calling Prince Edward Island’s new mental health and addictions emergency department, thought to be the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada, a game-changer,…
Canada’s drug crisis is affecting a largely unchecked population of users — newcomers
Read this story in Hindi. इस कहानी को हिंदी में पढ़ें.Read this story in Arabic. اقرأ القصة باللغة العربية Within 17 days of arriving in Canada, Ali was introduced to…
Want to be a memory maintainer in old age? Take care of your brain and your body, experts say
The Dose23:42What happens to my memory as I age? Bill VanGorder likes to keep his brain busy. The 81-year-old chief policy and education officer for the Canadian Association of Retired…
Advocates alarmed as Ottawa shutters mental health portal
Ottawa’s planned shutdown of a portal to mental health and substance use care is an affront to Canadians in need of already-chronically underfunded services, advocates say. The federal government introduced…
Canada almost wiped out syphilis. Now rates are skyrocketing — as more women, infants getting infected
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you…
Make sure you have 2 measles shots before you travel on spring break, says Canada’s top doctor
Canada’s top doctor is calling on people to check that they’re fully immunized with two doses of the measles vaccine before heading out of the country. Global health authorities are…
The Liberals and NDP still have reasons to work together — are they good enough?
If the 44th Parliament can hold it together until April 28, it will become the longest-lasting minority Parliament in modern Canadian history. This Parliament’s longevity is already well above average…
FDA warns consumers over smartwatches to measure blood glucose levels
Smartwatches and rings that claim to measure blood sugar levels for medical purposes without piercing the skin could be dangerous and should be avoided, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration…
APO-Mometasone nasal spray recalled due to infection risk
Drug company Apotex is recalling two lots of a prescription nasal spray because of possible bacterial contamination. APO-Mometasone nasal spray is prescribed for allergy symptoms in children, for sinusitis in…
Ontario documents show patient complaints over cataract billings
As Ontario prepares to expand the number of private clinics that perform publicly funded cataract surgeries, documents show those procedures form one of the most common complaints the province receives…
Unhappy with province, Belleville looks to fund health hub on its own amid drug crisis
The mayor of Belleville, Ont., says the province is dragging its heels on granting funds to help build a hub for mental health and addictions services — so he wants…
Audrina 28 birth control pill stickers misprinted in some lots, Health Canada says
Certain lots of Audrina 28 birth control pills contain day-of-the-week stickers that have a misprint that could lead to confusion around when to take the medication, Health Canada says. Audrina…
With Ontario’s senior population about to spike, report predicts big demand for home care
Ontario will see a spike in demand for home-care workers over the next few years as its population of seniors increases sharply, according to a new report by health economists.…
More doctors alone can’t fix B.C.’s health-care system: report
British Columbia has more family doctors per capita than it did 40 years ago, according to a new report, but its lead author says trying to find one or get…
Ontario says it’s working on program addressing forest firefighter smoke exposure fears, but union has doubts
A manager with Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNR) says work is underway to develop a formal program that addresses a joint health and safety committee’s concerns over…
Certain eggs recalled in Saskatchewan due to salmonella
A recall has been issued for certain eggs possibly contaminated with salmonella in Saskatchewan. On Saturday, the federal government revealed the egg recall was triggered by test results. Brands affected…
More than a bad trip: Experts warn about the risk of cannabis-induced psychosis
White Coat Black Art26:30The toll of cannabis-induced psychosis When Kalpit Sharma started smoking cannabis, he thought it was just part of “living his life” as a university student. After all,…
On the 10th anniversary of her husband’s death, she got a letter from the person who received his lungs
On the 10th anniversary of her husband’s death, Joan Fisher opened her mailbox to find a special letter from a man she’s never met. When her husband John died suddenly…
Jagmeet Singh confirms NDP wants national contraception coverage
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confirmed for the first time Friday that New Democrats are pushing the federal government to fund contraception coverage. The NDP leader was in British Columbia, where…
Alberta couple raises contamination concerns as Health Canada cracks down on cord blood clinic
For Carly and Ben Seligman, banking their two children’s umbilical cord blood felt like investing in medical insurance. The Calgary couple no longer trust that the potentially life-saving stem cells…
Quebec doctors to face increased scrutiny for overprescription of anti-anxiety medication
The misuse of benzodiazepines is sparking concern in Quebec and prompting the college of physicians to increase its scrutiny of doctors who overprescribe them. Benzos, as they are colloquially called,…
Clark’s Harbour clinic addresses barriers, stigma to accessing addictions and mental health help
Rex Stoddard knew his community needed something. Ever since a doctor who provided part-time service to Clark’s Harbour retired about 10 years ago, Stoddard, the town’s mayor, said efforts have…
Coverage of birth control, diabetes medication part of Liberal-NDP pharmacare talks
The federal government is considering covering the costs of birth control and diabetes medication as part of a national pharmacare plan currently being negotiated between the NDP and the governing…
Alaskapox death brings attention to small animal virus
For nine years, Alaska health officials have been aware of an unusual virus causing rare, relatively mild illnesses in the Fairbanks area. But a recent case in another part of…
Ontario woman who faked pregnancies, scammed doulas to be sentenced today
WARNING: This article contains details of sexual assault and suicidal ideation, and may affect those who have experienced them or know someone affected by them. A Brantford woman who faked…
Ford government faces legal action over licence to long-term care home with ‘highest’ COVID-19 death rate
The Ontario Health Coalition has taken legal action against the province of Ontario over the granting of a new 30-year licence to Southbridge Care Homes — a for-profit company that…
Heart disease hits South Asians earlier and harder. Blood vessel repairs offer clue as to why: study
The timeline for heart disease is sped up in people of South Asian ethnicity, and part of the answer for why may lie with faulty repairs to blood vessel damage,…
Trying to kick a nagging cough? It often just takes patience and time, physicians say
A niggling, nagging cough. They’re unpleasant, aggravating and — unfortunately — all too common after various viral infections. Research suggests “post-infectious cough,” referring to symptoms lasting between three and eight…
My dad’s assisted death was a parting gift. I wish I’d said so in his obituary
This First Person column is written by Kelley Korbin, who lives in West Vancouver, B.C. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ. My father’s death…
Loneliness among seniors is a global threat. This advocate is pushing for a local solution
With one of the most rapidly expanding senior populations in the country, seniors’ advocate Susan Walsh says structural change is needed to address loneliness in Newfoundland and Labrador. (Ted Dillon/CBC)…
Millions of people in Canada have sleep apnea. The problem is not all of them realize it
The Dose26:00What do I need to know about sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a medical condition in which breathing stops and restarts many times during sleep. Despite being a fairly…
At 76, I love walking and hiking. But an ice storm forced me to face my body’s limitations
This First Person column is the experience of Isobel Cunningham, who lives in Montreal. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ. When I opened the…
Some virtual care companies putting patients’ personal health data at risk, new study finds
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you…
Ford, Trudeau sign $3.1B health-care funding deal that will see Ontario hire more health workers
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford signed an agreement on Friday that details how the province must spend $3.1 billion in federal funding earmarked for health care.…
NDP threatens stalling tactics, end of agreement with Liberals over slow pace of pharmacare talks
The federal NDP has warned its Parliament Hill staff to prepare themselves for the possible sudden termination of the party’s supply-and-confidence deal with the Liberals — a bipartisan cooperation agreement…
Belleville declares addiction emergency after latest overdose surge
Mike Juby was outside Bridge Street United Church in Belleville, Ont., on Tuesday afternoon when people suddenly started dropping to the sidewalk all around him. There were “ambulances left, right…
Public health officials flag measles case in Montreal
Montreal public health officials say a case of measles has been reported in Montreal. The case was confirmed and signalled to Montreal Public Health on Tuesday. In a news release…
Manitoba government offered plan for Indigenous-led supervised consumption site in Winnipeg
The province says it’s considering a community proposal for an Indigenous-led supervised consumption site in downtown Winnipeg. The coalition behind the idea, led by Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre, includes…
Measles resurgence in Europe has Canadian medical experts on edge | Canada Tonight
8 hours ago News Duration 5:07 After an explosion of measles cases in Europe, medical experts say it’s just a ‘question of time’ before outbreaks happen in Canada, thanks to…
This disability support worker says long OT hours put her close to breaking point amid a staffing crisis
Disability support worker Amanda Hodgkins says a “staffing crisis” at Community Living Essex County in southwestern Ontario has her “pretty close” to her breaking point. In June 2022, Hodgkins said,…
Number of nurses injured on the job is ‘staggering,’ says union president
Every day of the year, on average, a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse is injured on the job in Newfoundland and Labrador. According to data from WorkplaceNL, this…
Manulife will cover specialty drugs filled at any pharmacy following backlash to Loblaw deal
Manulife will cover specialty drugs filled at any pharmacy, the insurance company said Monday, backtracking on its decision to only cover drugs filled at Loblaw-owned pharmacies less than a week…
B.C. should expand safer-supply program despite drug diversion risks: provincial health officer
A new report from Dr. Bonnie Henry has called on the B.C. government to broaden the availability and types of drugs that can be prescribed under the province’s controversial safer-supply…
Betty Brussel is 99. She just smashed 3 world swimming records
The Current27:10At 99, swimmer Betty Brussel just smashed 3 world records Betty Brussel has a lot to celebrate this year. The competitive swimmer just broke three world records in the…
Doctors, nurses and medical groups urge province to walk back plans to limit gender-affirming care
Sweeping changes to gender-affirming care, announced by the Alberta government this week, are sparking widespread backlash and condemnation from doctors, nurses and medical organizations — and calls are mounting for…
Measles has exploded in Europe. Clinicians say it’s only a matter of time before outbreaks hit Canada
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you…
Homeless people in Toronto more likely to get COVID again compared to housed population: study
People who are homeless have high rates of COVID-19 reinfection, putting the health of an already vulnerable population at further risk, a study published Friday in the BMC Infectious Diseases…
Cases of invasive group A strep are rising across the country. Here’s what you need to know
Canada is experiencing a record number of cases of dangerous, fast-moving strep infections. Invasive group A strep, or iGAS, is a bacterial infection that can lead to serious, life-threatening complications.…
After 5 miscarriages and a stillbirth, Quebec MNA draws attention to perinatal loss
As It Happens6:20After 5 miscarriages and a stillbirth, Quebec MNA draws attention to perinatal loss Every Oct. 15, Désirée McGraw and her family visit the grave of her stillborn daughter,…
1 in 5 people develop cancer in their lifetime, WHO agency estimates
There were an estimated 20 million cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer deaths in 2022, the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency said on Thursday, a growing burden that masks…
N.S. inquiry into killings by war veteran calls for better sharing of medical files
An inquiry that investigated why a former soldier in Nova Scotia killed three family members and himself in 2017 is calling on Ottawa and the province to change the way…
Canada’s 2022 fertility rate lowest on record, StatsCan reports
Canada’s total fertility rate dropped to its lowest point in more than a century of data-keeping in 2022, hitting just 1.33 children per woman, Statistics Canada said Wednesday. The 7.4…
Manulife-Loblaw deal raises questions over ties between insurance companies, big drug retailers
Manulife says its coverage of certain specialty prescription drugs will only apply at Loblaw-owned pharmacies, raising questions over the relationship between insurance providers and major pharmacy retailers. For independent pharmacists…
Manulife says coverage of some specialty drugs will only apply at Loblaw-owned pharmacies
Canadian insurance company Manulife announced that its coverage of certain specialty prescription drugs will only apply at Loblaw-owned pharmacies, a deal that pharmacare policy experts say raises concerns about competition…
Federal government seeking another pause on planned expansion of medical assistance in dying
The federal government has announced it is seeking another pause on medical assistance in dying (MAID) provisions that would cover those suffering solely from mental illnesses. This is the second…
14% of Quebec’s organ donors in 2022 were people who chose medically assisted death
Researchers say 64 people in Quebec donated their organs after receiving medical assistance in dying (MAID) between 2018 and the end of 2022. They found donations from this group rose…
Get control of chronic back pain with a full spectrum of therapy options, experts say
The Dose24:29How can I manage chronic back pain? Millions of people around the world suffer from chronic back pain everyday, often not knowing if they’ll ever recover. Pain specialist Dr.…
Opposition parties call for indefinite pause to MAID expansion for mental illness
A special parliamentary committee is set to release a report this week that could shape the federal government’s decision on whether to allow those suffering solely from a mental illness…
Some doctors caution against full-body MRIs as celebrity endorsements drive up demand
The Current24:35Are full-body MRIs worth the money? After a bout of prostate cancer, Don Garnier wanted to take a more proactive approach to his health. That’s why he went out…
Periods are considered unclean in my community. Now, I make a point to talk about them
This First Person column is written by Leisha Toory, who lives in Ottawa. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ. I was around 11 when…
Canadian Blood Services finds ‘really great response’ from donors after lifting mad cow-related ban
Padma Ranjan used to pass a blood donation centre on her bus ride to work in Vancouver and wish she could donate. Her family had been regular blood donors when…
Eby underscores ‘fundamental’ disagreement with B.C. chief coroner on safe supply
B.C. Premier David Eby has rebuffed the province’s retiring chief coroner’s swansong pleas for non-prescription safe supply of drugs, calling it a “fundamental issue” of disagreement on how to curb…
B.C. asks appeal court to reconsider decision allowing drug consumption in public spaces
B.C.’s attorney general is appealing a court decision that put the brakes on the province’s plans to crack down on drug use in public spaces. B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice…
B.C. announces expanded addictions treatment and recovery services
Premier David Eby joins officials in introducing new services for substance users the day after it was revealed that toxic illicit drugs killed a record number of people in B.C.…
B.C. sets grim record with 2,511 toxic drug deaths in 2023
The B.C. Coroners Service says there were more than 2,500 suspected illicit drug deaths in the province last year, the highest annual number recorded. In announcing the grim number, B.C.’s…
A kidney disease turned this education leader into an advocate for Ontarians waiting for a transplant
As president of an Ontario teachers’ union, Karen Brown is no stranger to public addresses. Now she’s started a new campaign to ask for something more personal: a kidney. “I’m…
‘A constant worry’: Regina woman still waiting for cancer diagnosis nearly 1 year later
A Regina woman is going on 45 weeks of wondering if she may have breast cancer. Nadine Baker has been experiencing breast cancer symptoms since March 2023. Due to a…
Quebec judge OK’s class-action suit over COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care homes
A Quebec judge has given the green light to a class-action lawsuit that alleges the Quebec government made a series of mistakes when the pandemic began that contributed to large…
Provinces concerned about expanding assisted dying for mental disorders: Holland
Politics Health Minister Mark Holland says some of his provincial counterparts have concerns about whether Canada is ready to extend medical assistance in dying to people with severe mental illnesses.…
Homeless people from Moncton find fresh start, addiction recovery at rural farm
Sitting by the warmth of a wood stove, Shawn Robicheau is quietly working away at a mosaic-style art piece. In vivid purple and green, he’s creating a welcome mat that…
Routine malaria vaccines start to roll out to protect children in Africa
Children in Cameroon will now be able to be vaccinated to protect them from malaria, one of Africa’s deadliest diseases. Of the 249-million malaria cases and more than 600,000 deaths…
What’s up with 10-year-old kids in Sephora? Why the question itself is driving controversy
What’s up with 10-year-old kids in Sephora? That’s the question dividing parents, dermatologists, retailers and social media as more and more children buy into expensive, elaborate skin-care and beauty products.…
Once touted as a COVID-19 ‘game changer,’ Paxlovid is now a question mark for clinicians
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you…
Adults who don’t know they have ADHD can struggle. Here’s how a diagnosis can help
The Dose23:52How do I know if I have undiagnosed adult ADHD? Edmonton resident Nikki Houde was 41 when she was formally diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In November 2021, the…
Concern, anger, promises and hope greet P.E.I. doctors’ open letter on Prince County Hospital
Two years ago, Alison Millard resigned from her permanent position at Prince County Hospital because she felt she was “suffocated and drowning” in P.E.I.’s health-care system. Millard had worked as…
Hey, sports fans: You spend up to 20% of every game watching gambling advertising
Anyone who watches sports is used to seeing betting ads during games, but a collaboration between CBC’s Marketplace and British researchers at the University of Bristol found gambling messages fill…
Alberta’s COVID death toll up by 17 since last week, with 137 more hospitalizations
Another 17 Albertans have died from COVID, according to the latest weekly data released by the provincial government. That brings the death toll for the current season to 420. The…
Most frostbite amputation hospital visits in Edmonton last year were for homeless patients
Edmonton’s unhoused population is disproportionately affected by amputations due to frostbite, accounting for more than half of such visits last fiscal year according to data collected by Alberta Health Services.…
Federal dental care program will exclude 4.4M uninsured Canadians: report
Millions of uninsured Canadians will be left out of the new federal dental program because their family income is too high, says a report released Wednesday by the Canadian Centre…
Union warns patients at risk as 10 of 12 lab technologist positions at Thompson hospital vacant
A health-care union is repeating fears that a longstanding shortage of medical technologists could lead to the collapse of a lab and put patients at risk at a northern Manitoba…
Makeshift dividers, hallway medicine are signs of a system in crisis, say Alberta front-line staff
It’s been dubbed “hallway medicine” and, more recently, “duct tape medicine” in Alberta. Doctors and nurses say, whatever you call it, it’s a clear sign of a health-care system in…
In a Gaza hospital, a Canadian surgeon tended to children whose eyes were shattered in bomb blasts
Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions and images. The Current19:15What a Canadian doctor saw in Gaza A Canadian eye surgeon has described removing shrapnel from children’s shattered eyeballs during a…
Quaker recalls granola bars, cereals over possible salmonella exposure
Quaker Canada is voluntary recalling 38 varieties of granola bars and Harvest Crunch cereals due to the potential exposure to salmonella. The company said the recall was a direct result…
Ontario man’s cross-Canada cycling trip helps researchers understand how exercise impacts Parkinson’s disease
After he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Steve Iseman set out on an 8,000-kilometre trip across Canada to raise money and awareness about the disorder. But what he experienced when…
Delays, falls, errors led to deaths, worsening care for patients in Manitoba hospitals, report says
Health professionals are growing increasingly concerned that health-care delays are leading to more patient deaths as wait times in Winnipeg emergency rooms continue to soar. On Friday, Manitoba Health released…
How ‘exercise snacks’ can add more movement in less time in your day
The Dose22:42What’s the least amount of exercise I can do to get the benefits? Most people know they need to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives in order to…
Over-capacity ERs are dangerous choke points. But hospital challenges go far deeper
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you…
Cramps and mood swings that end with a period: Tips for a less-awful menstrual cycle
The Dose25:03How do I manage my mental and physical well-being during the menstrual cycle? Read Transcribed Audio You may have learned about it in health class at school, or gotten…
Spring vaccine dose suggested to protect seniors in Canada from severe COVID
People 65 years of age and older may receive another dose of updated vaccine to protect against severe illness from COVID-19, Canada’s advisory body on immunizations said Friday. The National…
Alberta reviewing seniors’ lodge program as vacancies threaten future of some buildings
Seven years ago, Stanley Much left his one-bedroom apartment on a busy Edmonton street to move into a seniors’ lodge in the village of Holden, about 100 kilometres southeast of…
Landmark study finds prescribing opioids dramatically reduced deaths, overdoses for drug users in B.C.
A study conducted by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control has found that prescribing medical-grade opioids dramatically reduced the rates of deaths and overdoses for drug users living in B.C.…
This man wants to stop drinking but is struggling to get into rehab without a fixed address
Davy Short is afraid he’s going to die, either from the alcohol or the elements, or some combination of both. The St. John’s man, homeless since September, says alcoholism is…
B.C. hits record for hospital admissions as flu and RSV cases rise
Health officials say Influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are both on the rise in B.C., and hospitals in the province are treating a record number of patients as…
Calls for more ‘safer opioid’ access in Nova Scotia as drug supply increasingly toxic
As the illicit drugs that have devastated Western and Central Canada become more prevalent in Nova Scotia, a Halifax physician is renewing calls to expand access to “safer opioid supply”…
Ozempic not linked to increase in suicidal thoughts, U.S. study suggests
People taking the popular diabetes and obesity drugs Ozempic and Wegovy had a lower risk of suicidal thoughts than those taking other medications to treat the same conditions, a new…
This newborn waited 8 hours for a doctor. Experts say Ontario’s ER wait times have never been worse
When Joey Salmingo took his newborn to an Ontario emergency room in late December, he didn’t expect him to wait eight hours to be seen by a doctor. Salmingo says…
3rd child dies of flu-related causes in B.C. as cases continue to rise
A third child has died in British Columbia due to complications linked to influenza, cases of which continue to rise in the province. The latest update from the B.C. Centre…
Fewer than one-quarter of N.S. health-care workers have their flu shots this year
A growing number of health-care workers in Nova Scotia are not getting their annual flu shots, according to figures released by their employer, Nova Scotia Health. In response to a…
Avian flu detected in polar bear in Alaska
Wildlife officials in Alaska have confirmed the first known case of a polar bear that died from avian flu — highlighting growing concerns about the H5N1 strain’s potential spread among…
Proposed class-action lawsuit filed in Manitoba over cantaloupe tainted with salmonella
An Ontario woman who became ill after eating cantaloupe is the lead plaintiff in a second proposed class-action lawsuit filed over cantaloupe-linked salmonella infections across the country. A statement of…
Health Canada approves Pfizer’s gene therapy for treatment of hemophilia
Pfizer said on Wednesday that Canada’s health regulator approved its gene therapy for the treatment of a rare inherited bleeding disorder called hemophilia B ahead of a U.S. decision. The…
These Windsorites run in the freezing cold. Here’s why they say you should too
An accomplished Windsor, Ont., track and field coach is encouraging people to take up winter running as a way to get fitter in the new year. Kurt Downes, a PhD…
Montreal doctor questions government’s plea for Quebecers to avoid ER
9 hours ago News Duration 5:14 Dr. Laura Sang, a Montreal family doctor, says a vulnerable person’s condition can evolve quickly and some may take time to fully present. Sang…
Why more Canadians are delaying parenthood by freezing their eggs
Inside the lab at Olive Fertility Centre in Vancouver, hundreds of unfertilized human eggs are nesting in round tanks full of cold liquid nitrogen. For some, the frozen eggs could…
Enfamil brand baby formula recalled in Canada over Cronobacter sakazakii risks
Health Health Canada announced a recall of certain Enfamil brand baby formula products on Monday, citing contamination of Cronobacter sakazakii. Consumers advised to dispose of Nutramigen A+ LGG Hypoallergenic products…
These B.C. neuroscientists hope to help people with mental health challenges — using patients’ own brainwaves
A growing number of psychiatrists and psychologists in B.C. say they’re successfully treating patients by harnessing the power of patients’ own brain waves. Neurofeedback treatment has been studied for several…
This Winnipeg scientist is using viruses to fight drug-resistant superbugs
Steven Theriault is convinced he has the solution to an urgent global public health threat — antibiotic resistance. But he can’t get his bacteria-killing viruses approved through what he calls…
B.C. Supreme Court pauses legislation banning drug consumption in public spaces, citing ‘irreparable harm’
A British Columbia Supreme Court Justice has granted a temporary injunction against the B.C. NDP government’s legislation banning all drug use in a wide range of public spaces, pausing the…
Dentists, hygienists unsure how national free dental care plan will work
Letters have started to arrive in the mailboxes of Canadian seniors inviting them to sign up for free dental care, but those who provide the services say they’re concerned whether…
Hunger for gold means the Amazon has reached ‘tipping point’ of mercury contamination from illegal mining
The rising value of gold worldwide has amplified illegal mining in the Amazon, where liquid mercury is being dumped in the Amazon River, and causing scientists to warn that Indigenous…
More addiction treatment needed as B.C. drug decriminalization pilot enters 2nd year: doctors, advocates
A narrow, winding corridor at Vancouver’s St. Paul’s Hospital leads to a clinic offering quick access to addiction treatment for people seeking help on their own or after a referral…
Wearable technology trend now includes healthy people tracking their blood glucose. Is it worth it?
Health Technology originally designed to help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels has joined the wearables trend. Data likely won’t improve health of people who don’t have diabetes…
BlendJet recall of millions of blenders over fire hazard, breaking blades includes 117,000 in Canada
BlendJet is recalling millions of portable blenders over laceration and fire hazards after receiving dozens of reports of injuries, U.S. regulators said Thursday. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)…
Record-setting Ajax twins were never expected to survive. Now, they’re nearly 2
Toronto The twins were born in March 2022 in Toronto, at a combined weight of 750 grams, or 1.65 pounds. They now hold a Guinness World Record, but more importantly,…
Mumbai doctors blame pigeons for spike in lung disease
At his clinic in a northern suburb of Mumbai, Dr. Pralhad Prabhudesai stared at an X-ray, flipped through a chart and quickly fired a string of questions at the patient…