With a national identity built upon the idea of being a cultural “melting pot,” racism often gets swept under the rug in Canada. Despite curating this idealized image of inclusivity, racism is ingrained in the nation’s history and institutions, including the Canadian medical system. Khandideh Williams, a PhD Candidate in[Read More…]
Tag: healthcare
What’s up, doc? Discrimination against foreign doctors runs rampant amid Canada’s doctor shortage
Canada faces a dangerous shortage of medical doctors, leaving approximately five million Canadians without access to primary care providers in 2022. Simultaneously, internationally-trained physicians (ITPs) struggle to meet unnecessarily burdensome requirements to practice medicine in Canada. Foreign-trained doctors must undergo eight cumbersome steps to obtain a Canadian medical license—as opposed[Read More…]
Outpatient knee replacement: A cost-effective alternative
Bone surgeries, particularly total hip replacement (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA), are common procedures for treating advanced joint conditions like arthritis and avascular necrosis. While these surgeries are highly effective, they are also invasive and resource-intensive, posing challenges for healthcare systems striving to manage costs. However, with the emergence[Read More…]
Healthcare for all? Not if you’re 2SLGBTQIA+ at McGill.
A recent study revealed that discomfort among Quebec youth regarding friendships with 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals has doubled since 2017, highlighting an alarming rise in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ attitudes in the province. A broader, growing shift toward conservatism has fueled this surge in intolerance and serves as a threat to the safety of 2SLGBTQIA+[Read More…]
Trans students report increased barriers to Hormone Replacement Therapy access at Student Wellness Hub
Some students are reporting increased difficulties accessing gender-affirming care following the temporary leave of Hashana Perera, reportedly the only doctor at the Student Wellness Hub (SWH) willing to prescribe Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). For some, this has called into question the ability for the SWH to provide specialized resources for[Read More…]
Nurturing culturally safe birth care for Indigenous communities
Indigenous communities, particularly First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women, face unique and significant challenges in accessing equitable healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth. Historical and ongoing disparities in healthcare access and quality, mistreatment and abuse of Indigenous people in colonial healthcare systems, lack of healthcare services in remote communities and northern[Read More…]
Quebec’s healthcare system needs a prescription for change
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé recently announced reform plans for Quebec’s healthcare system, which include restricting new doctors to the public sector and potentially invoking the notwithstanding clause to enforce compliance. The provincial doctor shortage is a pressing issue: Quebec has seen a 70 per cent increase in physicians moving[Read More…]
Telemedicine: A path to modernize healthcare for seniors
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the economy, society, and healthcare system. While this crisis has presented the healthcare delivery system with unprecedented challenges, it has catalyzed the rapid adoption of telemedicine—remote clinical services. Telemedicine allows patients to chat with healthcare professionals about their physical and mental health or receive a[Read More…]
The Tribune Explains: SSMU’s Gender Affirming Care Plan
Accessing gender-affirming care at McGill can be overwhelming, intimidating, and time-consuming. As we reach the mid-point of the Change-of-Coverage and Opt-Out Period, which falls between Aug. 14 and Sept. 27—The Tribune brings you a guide to SSMU’s Gender Affirmation Care (GAC) Plan, which was first introduced in Fall 2023. Who[Read More…]
Redefining care: A new approach to decision-making for individuals with dementia
While dementia is commonly most associated with memory loss, research has also linked it to impaired judgment, increased difficulty navigating one’s surroundings, and even failure to pick up on sarcasm. Understandably, the condition can impact a person’s autonomy and independence, but in what circumstances can we attest that a person[Read More…]