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Last night, prominent Montreal lawyer Jean-Pierre Ménard filed a petition on behalf of the Réseau FADOQ asking the Federal Court to issue a writ of mandamus to compel the Minister of Health to enforce the Canada Health Act in Quebec. The Government of Quebec instituted two-tier medicine last November when it voted in favour of Bill 20, which allows doctors to add accessory fees to their patient services. This is the first time to our knowledge that a citizens' group has asked the Federal Court to compel the government to apply the Canada Health Act.  CDM, along with our colleagues in the Canada Health Coalition, began working with public health care advocates including Monsieur Menard when we learned of Minister Barrette’s disturbing proposal to amend Bill 20, and legalize extra billing.

MONTREAL (MAY 3, 2016) – At a press conference today in Montreal, Canadian Doctors for Medicare (CDM) and Quebec health care advocates joined the Réseau FADOQ, Marc Ferland, and Liette Hacala Meunier in their bid to compel the federal government to enforce the Canada Health Act (CHA).

TORONTO (OCTOBER 27, 2016) – Canadian Doctors for Medicare (CDM) congratulates the Réseau FADOQ, Marc Ferland, and Liette Hacala Meunier in their successful campaign to compel the federal government to enforce the Canada Health Act (CHA). Lawyers for these organizations announced today they are no longer pursuing legal action to require the federal government to act against Bill 20 in Québec. The plaintiffs, represented by lawyer Jean-Pierre Ménard, filed a petition for a writ of mandamus on May 2, 2016, asking the Federal Court to order Canada’s Minister of Health to apply the CHA and end extra-billing in their province. The plaintiffs dropped the case in light of actions taken by Minister Jane Philpott on September 6 when she asked Québec’s Health Minister Gaétan Barrette to end all extra-billing practices immediately or the federal health transfer payment to Québec would be reduced. On September 14, Minister Barrette said that he would table legislation to abolish all extra billing.

“Today is a major victory for patients’ rights in Québec; however, FADOQ’s court action should never have been necessary,” said Dr. Monika Dutt, Chair, Canadian Doctors for Medicare. “Extra-billing is illegal and is a barrier to receiving medically necessary health care.” “It is incumbent upon Minister Philpott to continue to speak out and penalize all violations of the Canada Health Act across the country,” Dutt continued. Although these legal proceedings are done for now, CDM will to continue its support of FADOQ as well as monitor Québec’s progress in the elimination of extra-billing. The people of Québec are not alone in facing these challenges to public healthcare. Violations of the CHA are evident in many parts of Canada. In 2016, for instance, CDM asked Minister Philpott to defend and enforce the Act against contraventions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario as well as Québec.

“The events in Québec are a clear signal of the importance for all provinces and territories to adhere to the Canada Health Act,” Dutt continued. “Canadian Doctors for Medicare hopes that further legal action to ensure the federal government enforces its own legislation will not be necessary.” Canadian Doctors for Medicare provides a voice for Canadian doctors who want to strengthen and improve Canada's universal publicly-funded health care system. We advocate for innovations in treatment and prevention services that are evidence-based and improve access, quality, equity and sustainability.

Canadian doctors demand immediate action as the Copeman Healthcare Centre stands accused of violating Canada Health Act TORONTO (May 30, 2016) –  For the second time in a month, Canadian Doctors for Medicare (CDM) renewed its appeal to Canadian Health Minister Jane Philpott to take immediate action against extra billing practices and enforce the Canada Health Act.

TORONTO (May 12, 2016) – Extra-billing in Quebec medical clinics are “excessive” says Auditor General Guylaine Leclerc, but Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott has yet to act on calls to enforce the Canada Health Act and bring them under control. Leclerc tabled her Spring 2016 report yesterday in the National Assembly, which focused on the billing practices of medical clinics patients for services already covered by provincial insurance, or extra billing. According to the audit’s findings, neither the Ministry of Health (MSSS) nor Quebec’s health insurance board (RAMQ) are providing sufficient guidance and oversight with clinics and their billing practices.

Leclerc failed to recognize extra-billing prohibits equitable access to health care as well as violates sections 18 to 21 of the Canada Health Act. “Charging fees to patients for services covered by Quebec’s provincial insurance hurts everyone,” said Dr. Monika Dutt, Chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare. “They deter people from seeking care, make health outcomes worse and in the end, drive up the costs as people get sicker before seeking treatment. Extra-billing is also not allowed under the Canada Health Act.” In March, Canadian Doctors for Medicare (CDM) asked the Honourable Jane Philpott, Canada’s Minister of Health, to defend and enforce the Canada Health Act against contraventions in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario as well as Quebec. CDM reiterated their concerns at May 3 press conference in Montreal hosted by FADOQ, a leading seniors’ organization in Quebec, that is seeking a writ of mandamus from the Federal Court to compel the Minister of Health to enforce the Act in the province.

“As physicians, our organization’s goal is to improve Medicare, which will not happen if the provincial and federal governments continue to ignore the problem of extra-billing,” Dutt continued. “CDM calls on the federal government to protect public Medicare in Quebec and across Canada by applying the penalties prescribed in the Act against extra billing.” Canadian Doctors for Medicare provides a voice for Canadian doctors who want to strengthen and improve Canada's universal publicly-funded health care system. We advocate for innovations in treatment and prevention services that are evidence-based and improve access, quality, equity and sustainability.

If you've supported CDM in the past, you've likely signed one of our mailed petitions asking the federal government to demonstrate the leadership required to protect and enhance Medicare. To ensure your voices are heard, we are collaborating with Health Critics Murray Rankin and Dr. Hedy Fry to bring these petitions, which comprise thousands of signatures from concerned Canadians across the country, to the House of Commons floor on March 30th. The Health Accord expired a year ago, so we hope that this timely action will remind the federal government that strong leadership and support is required to create the best possible system for all Canadians.   Sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to sign a petition and voice your concern. This has been a long-running initiative at CDM, and we're excited to now see it through to completion. Your participation and passion have made this work possible.

Dr. Dan Boudreau joins a dynamic panel of presenters including keynote speaker, Dr. Jeffrey Turnbull, to discuss addressing the health needs of people who are homeless. This free event, co-sponsored by CCPA Nova Scotia, is taking place on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at the Halifax Central Library.

Dr. Bob Woollard will be joining Dr. Steve Morgan to discuss national pharmacare at a talk hosted by the Medical Student Alumni in Vancouver, BC on March 26.

August 4, 2015

Edmonton Journal (original post here)Sarah Hanafi

I’ve learned a lot over the course of my first year of medical school, but one of the biggest lessons has also been the hardest pill to swallow: despite my best clinical judgment, many of my prescription slips will go ignored because my patients simply cannot afford them. Thanks to a recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, we know that a universal public drug plan, one facilitated by the federal government and run by the provinces, would provide coverage for prescription drugs to all Canadians. Further, such a plan would not only be economically feasible but cost-effective: Canadians could save $7.3 billion a year.

August 20, 2015 Dr. Danielle Martin was on CBC's The National for a lively discussion on The Politics of Health Care. The focus was on the centrality of health care issues, particularly pharmacare, for October's federal election, and on the importance of federal leadership. You can watch the video here. 

September 1, 2015

During my 30 years as a family physician practicing in downtown Hamilton, many of my patients struggled with the cost of prescription drugs. I frequently found myself begging drug company representatives for "samples" to give to patients with inadequate or no drug coverage.

Canadians spend more on prescription drugs than any of the 33 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), except the United States. We're the only country with a universal health-care system that doesn't cover medications. In a recent Angus Reid Institute poll, one in four Canadians (23%) reported that in the last year they or someone in their household did not take their medication as prescribed because of cost. The numbers are higher for younger adults, lower income Canadians and those with no or limited drug coverage. An overwhelming majority (88%) agree that "Every Canadian — regardless of income — should have access to necessary prescription medication".

 I am proud to say that on March 30, I delivered signatures from 8,400 CDM supporters to Parliament Hill. We hosted a press conference at Parliament with Murray Rankin, the Official Opposition Health Critic, Dr. Hedy Fry, the Liberal Health Critic, and MPs Peggy Nash (NDP) and Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). Following the press conference, Murray Rankin presented our petition in the House of Commons.

Marathon calls for a national pharmacare strategy In Marathon, Ontario, Dr. Sarah Newbery brought a motion to her local city council, asking for them to support calls for a federal

Dr. Monika Dutt spoke with Don Connolly from CBC-Radio Halifax's Information Morning on November 20 regarding the implications of a new executive health clinic opening in Halifax in January.

October 21, 2015

You are the parent of a sick child. You have a limited budget and you must decide to buy the medicine the doctor prescribed for your child or provide food and shelter for your family instead. What do you do?

ST. JOHN'S - July 16, 2015

Premiers from all parties and all regions joined Canadian Doctors for Medicare today in writing a prescription for the Federal Government: a national drug plan for Canadians. The giant prescription was signed at an early morning event at the annual Premiers’ conference being held in St John’s Newfoundland today.

A study released this month shows that the rate of missed prescriptions for Canadians has reached 1 in 5. There are several factors involved in this, but one thing is perfectly clear: we need to correct this enormous gap in our health care system by pulling prescription drugs under the umbrella of public Medicare. We're not alone in this realization either. According to an Angus Reid poll, 91% of Canadians are now calling for a national pharmacare plan.

September 15, 2015

Written by Mark Cardwell for Canadian Healthcare Network on September 15, 2015:

A coalition of Canadian groups dedicated to defending Canada’s publicly-funded health care system is sounding the alarm over a proposed amendment in Quebec that would give private medical clinics the right to bill patients fees that are now illegal.

Voluntary Health Insurance In The European Union: A Critical Assessment Mossialos, Elias* and Thomson, Sarah M. S.* *London School of Economics 1. International Journal of Health Services, Volume 32, Number 1, Pages 19–88, 2002; 2. World Health Organization, on behalf of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, 2004

March 30, 2015

The Canadian Doctors For Medicare on Monday presented a petition calling for a renewed federal-provincial health accord to Liberal and NDP MPs to table in the House of Commons. "As a doctor, I work on health care's frontline," CDM chair Dr. Monika Dutt said as she delivered 8,340 petition signatures people from across the country in Ottawa to Opposition health critic Murray Rankin, Liberal health critic, Dr. Hedy Fry, NDP MP Peggy Nash and Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett.

However, Quebec radiologists are against universal coverage for the tests.

Patients should have access based on their health needs, not their financial means, Alain Vadeboncoeur, head of Quebec Doctors for Medicare (Médecins québécois pour le régime public)

the wait times for ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans can be as long as two years in hospitals, while the same services are available in less than 24 hours in private clinics. For patients without private insurance, MRIs done outside of a hospital can cost between $700 and $1,000.

The Campaign for National Drug Coverage has released a graphic comparing the federal party stances on national drug coverage leading into the election.

Vancouver (14 April 2016) — Dr. Brian Day’s campaign to dismantle Canadian public health care was dealt a significant blow as counsel for the Attorney General of Canada presented their intention to intervene in Cambie Surgical Centre et al. v. Medical Services Commission et al (Cambie Case) in BC Supreme Court, says a release from the BC Health Coalition (BCHC) and Canadian Doctors for Medicare (CDM).

Federal government to appear on the constitutional question of the Cambie Charter challenge The Cambie Case (link is external) is a Charter challenge being led by Dr. Brian Day, a Vancouver-based for-profit clinic owner, asking the Court to rule that four sections of .B.C’s Medicare Protection Act violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. According to their submission in court, the Attorney General of Canada intends to intervene as a party in the case, so they can appear and participate on constitutional questions raised by the Plaintiffs.

The future of Medicare is going to trial this fall. On September 6, 2016, the Supreme Court of British Columbia will begin hearing arguments in Cambie Surgeries Corp. V. British Columbia, a legal case challenging the constitutionality of the Canada Health Act.

First, we have a new judge. The Honourable John J. Steeves, a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia has been assigned to the case. On April 13, we learned that counsel for the Attorney General of Canada is now a party in the case and will be replying to all constitutional issues. The trial start date was moved to September 6, 2016 in order to accommodate preparation time for the Attorney General.