National prescription drug coverage would provide access to necessary medications to those who cannot afford them. A national drug program, could also save billions of dollars in healthcare expenditure. A 2016 poverty Backgrounder explained that the inability to afford prescription medications poses three problems: increased acute care expenditure over time, tenfold non-adherence to prescribed regimens among those with low household incomes, and inequitable access to necessary drugs. In 2010, Gagnon reported that generic drugs are often referred to as ‘tried and true’, they are often well researched and frequently used. Generic drugs in Canada are more than double the median price in other OECD countries. The current multi-payer system for prescription drug coverage is highly inefficient. Maintaining the status quo would lead to higher expenditures by employers and employees on private insurance plans. Research shows that employers and employees pay steep premiums, which increase labor costs and reduce competition. There is a negative correlation between drug expenditure and research and development of drugs over a 15-year period in Canada. Using the same data, countries who spend 35% less on pharmaceuticals spend more on research and development.
With the recent public consultation on the new Canadian “food guide” just coming to an end I’ve been noticing a lot of push-back from industry. There was a letter from a MP voicing concern about the new food guide as the new guiding principles seem to be steering people away from animal-based sources of protein…
We’re living in a wealthy, healthy, privileged and developed country, we’re actually so privileged that we’ve masked the inequality that exists in our country. Health and wealth are correlated in Canada. The people with the four times the food insecurity rates also have the lowest life expectancies in the country. It’s a cycle that continuously affects the whole population through healthcare spending (tax dollars)- Canada can’t spend less on healthcare until everyone has equal opportunities for health.
Food banks are kind of like a band-aid… a necessary band-aid but band-aids don’t heal wounds or problems, they cover them. Policy intervention must take place in order to help those who are food insecure so that they can continuously have adequate food in their home. Adequate food is affordable and is nutritious. Adequate food is also food that the person knows how to prepare and has the tools to do so.
Do you know what will solve food insecurity? Hint: it’s not reduced food waste.
Ever wonder what the healthiest thing to order on the Chinese takeout menu is? Find out what a dietitian thinks about Chinese takeout, ordering hacks and more.
I recently read an article titled, Sugar coating the truth about soft drink taxes, the article was written well. While reading the first few lines I thought that the writer was against soda taxes I soon found out he was for actions that help people make educated choices about their food. He speaks about soda taxes…
Do you know how much protein you need? Are you sick of boiled chicken breasts and spinach? Try some of my muscle building hacks and my muscle math to ‘beef up’ your diet.
There might be a new big brother in town that is set up to monitor food industry influence of nutrition research, conflicts of interest, and bias. Introducing Feed the Truth with advocates Marion Nestle (Food Politics), Michael Jacobson (CSPI), and Debra Eschmeyer (White House) on the board of directors.
Does chewing gum after surgery improve bowel function? You’ll be surprised with the answer!
Bottom Line: Chewing gum in post abdominal surgery patients shortens time to first flatus (by 10 hours), time to first bowel motion (by ~1/2 day), and length of hospital stay (by~0.7 days). For every five patients treated, one fewer will develop ileus. Chewing gum in non-post-surgical constipation has not been studied.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations has defined “food security” as existing when
“all people, at all times, have physical and economic
access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet
their dietary needs and food preferences for an active
and healthy life.”
In Canada, the absence of food security is “food
insecurity” – Not all Canadians
are able to afford enough food for themselves,
their partners, and children. In 2012, one in every eight
Canadian households experienced food insecurity.
Have you signed the petition for putting added sugar on Canadian food labels? Do you know the difference between free sugar and added sugar?
A quick read for Nutrition Month. Do you understand the influence of the food industry? Are you aware that the food industry funded research is 5x more likely to conclude that there is no association between sugar sweetened beverages and obesity than systematic reviews without conflicts of interest.