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World Patient Safety Day

Lower Cost for Whom?

As you may be aware, more and more residents from the US are purchasing their prescription drugs from Canada, due to the lower prices. While this is increasing sales for pharmaceutical companies and their associates, there is a something more important that must be considered. Namely, what effect are the sales of Canadian medicine to our US neighbours having on Canada and we Canadians?

According to a number of professional groups, the outcome of these prescription sales may result in drug shortages Canada.  This, in turn, can have negative repercussions on the healthcare of Canadians.  As a letter sent by groups representing patients, health professionals, hospitals, and pharmacists to Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor states, “‘The Canadian medicine supply is not sufficient to support both Canadian and U.S. consumers…The supply simply does not, and will not, exist within Canada to meet such demands.”of the potential for increasing drug shortages.'”  Read more about this here.

Could your medication be making you sicker?

If you are take any medication, whether it be doctor initiated prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs or herbal remedies, you are apt to be doing do so in hopes of getting a particular outcome (e.g., less pain, greater mobility, etc.) However, can the medication you are taking actually make you sicker? Unfortunately, the answer is “Yes.” Click here to find out more.

Another Chance

Join the Roster

Are you a socially conscious person with an interest in helping Alberta’s regulated health professions govern their members in a manner that protects and serves the public interest? Are you looking for a new and exciting opportunity to support the complaint and disciplinary responsibilities of the various college councils and associations that govern Alberta’s regulated health professions?

If so, Alberta Health is looking for you to become a member of the Roster of Public Members. Click here for more information. Deadline to apply for this opportunity is August 31, 2017.

Over-the-counter meds are no problem, right?

Do you know the side effects of acetaminophen – Tylenol? What about the side effects of Aspirin?

Many of us take over-the-counter medication on a regular basis. Due in part to the fact that these medications are available without prescription and are taken so freely and frequently, it is not uncommon for their side effects to be ignored and/or indeed unknown to us. Unfortunately, this lack of knowledge can have serious consequences. For example, in a 2006 FDA report, approximately 46,000 emergency room visits/year were related to acetaminophen overdoses.

In a recent online article found on huffingtonpost.ca, some popular medications and their side effects are identified. If you have not already read it, you may wish to do so. As Stephanie Hallett, the article’s author states, “Potentially serious side effects for popular medications are more common than you may think.”

What is Sepsis?

If you have no idea what sepsis is, you are not alone. However, with doctors being encouraged to pay more attention to the possibility of this life-threatening condition occurring, you are apt to hear more about it. In fact, in a recent “The Current” on CBCListen, host Anna Maria Tremonti discussed sepsis in a segment entitled “Why time is of the essence in treating sepsis — a growing killer in Canada.” 

If you have not listened to the program, you may wish to do so. Thanks to Nadine, a member of our Pts4Chg community, for bringing this program to our attention.