Intro

Good afternoon, members of the executive team, my name is Ana and this is Surbhi.
We prepared a report on all the major events that happened in the Healthcare industry
over the last week.

We’ll look at some new medical requirements, changes in legislation, some prospective
medical research and more, all within 20 minutes. At the end of our report, you will have
10 minutes to ask any questions you have in mind.

Every news piece presented will follow the same formula:

● the headline
● the source
● the date of publication
● what happened
● analysis of the coverage
● why it is relevant

We will present news geographically, starting with local news and ending with
international.

Let’s begin.
We start with local news, and the first news piece that caught our attention this week
was:

1. Masking rules return to N.S. hospitals, one month after they were dropped
(local).
It is published by Global News on Oct. 10 (Tuesday)
https://globalnews.ca/news/10015861/nova-scotia-health-covid-19-masking-rules/

Details:
In a release Tuesday, Oct. 10, Nova Scotia Health announced the masking mandate,
coming into effect Thursday, Oct.12.

Masks will be required upon entry, in common and public areas (including hallways,
elevators, staircases and cafeterias). Clinical areas where patients and caregivers are
present, inpatient and ambulatory care settings will all follow the masking rule.

The change was brought up in anticipation of the respiratory virus season.

While there are no changes to support person restrictions, Nova Scotia Health does
remind anyone with COVID-19 symptoms to not visit facilities.

This article is well organized. It is in public interest, timely news. It is Newsworthy in the
as it follows relevance. The highlight is that Nova Scotia wasn’t the only province with
the masking mandate being brought back, it links to similar news about Ontario and
B.C. earlier this month.

Now, me and Ana will present regional news.

2. Quebec has no clear plan to fight cancer, patient-rights groups charge

(regional).

Montreal Gazette, Oct. 12 (Thursday)

https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/quebec-has-no-clear-plan-to-fight-cancer-
patient-rights-groups

Details:
Quebec Cancer Foundation executive director calls for action at a news conference on
Thursday, stating: “There’s an urgent need for a costed cancer plan with measurable
objectives and dedicated funding”.
According to a coalition of patient-right groups, Quebec “trails far behind the rest of
Canada” with no clear plan on how to fight cancer, even as delays in diagnosis and
treatment grew into a major problem during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In February, the British Columbia government announced a $440-million action plan to

improve cancer screening programs and support cancer research, among other
measures. Quebec is still “elaborating” on a plan with no deadline in sight.

Juli Meilleur, executive director of Leucan (organization that promotes the recovery and
well-being of cancer-stricken children), bemoaned the scarce funding for research on
rare cancers in Quebec. ”There is little research and little funding for rare cancers,
which makes it difficult to reduce the 15 percent of children who die of cancer.”

It’s projected that 58,000 Quebecers will receive a cancer diagnosis this year, and that
more than 22,000 people will die from the disease. This is a rough estimate, as Quebec
doesn’t keep statistics of cancer incidence nearly as well as other provinces, according
to the president of the Cancer Research Society.

According to Quebec Health Ministry, the number of people on wait lists for cancer
surgery has jumped by more than 12 per cent in comparison to a year ago (now 4,744)
— a consequence of Quebec’s policy of délestage, or postponing clinical activities
during the pandemic.Of that number, nearly 760 patients have been waiting longer than
the medically acceptable delay of 57 days. A year ago, that figure was the same,
suggesting that Quebec has struggled to reduce wait lists for those most in need of a
cancer operation.

The other question raised at the conference was why the Ministry of Economy,
Innovation and Energy is responsible for providing grants in the province, and not the
Health Ministry.
Quebec Health Minister’s Christian Dubé’s press attaché said the ministry has “already
made significant progress in recent months with the publication of a number of data” on
cancer. What’s more, a cervical cancer screening program will be rolled out across
Quebec over the coming months.

“We are aware that there is still work to be done, but we have already gone some way
towards improving care for cancer patients, as well as taking more preventive action,”
he added. “We will continue to work with all our partners.” This article adheres to
journalistic practices such as accountability, truthfulness (all sources stated), organizing
knowledge, public interest. Frames: conflict, consensus (medical professionals),
wrongdoing exposed. Quotes from both sides: patient-right groups and the Quebec
Health Minister’s representative.

It is relevant because As Quebec is far behind other provinces in cancer awareness

there is a significant need to raise awareness in targeted communities for certain
cancers. It relates to public health which is one of the major concerns of the
Government.
October - Breast cancer awareness month.

Now Ana will talk about some more regional news.

3. Ottawa pinpoints 5 'concrete' priorities after health ministers meet on P.E.I.

(national).

CBC News, Oct. 12

Ottawa pinpoints 5 'concrete' priorities after health ministers meet on P.E.I. (cbc.ca)

Details:
Health ministers from across the country wrapped up two days of meetings in
Charlottetown Thursday, October 12 and their federal counterpart says he is taking five
"concrete" priorities home to Ottawa as a result of it.

The strategies listed in the communique were:

1. A focus on nursing retention tool kit for provinces.
2. A new examination of health-care training with a focus on supporting Indigenous
people interested in health careers.
3. A reduction in the time it takes for internationally educated health professionals to
begin working in Canada, by allowing them to begin the credential process overseas.
4. Progress on labour mobility to allow health workers to work anywhere in the country,
starting with doctors this year and nurses in future years.
5. A new "Centre of Excellence for the Future of the Health Workforce" to better
understand Canada's future health-care needs.

Holland said another priority will be digital health care. The two-day conference came at
a time when many are saying Canada's healthcare is in crisis. Health ministers listened
not only to the groups representing doctors and nurses, but also other healthcare
professionals and organizations from across the country.

According to the Canadian Medical Association president the goal is to increase the
number of Canadians with a primary care provider to 90 per cent in five years and 95
per cent in 10 years.

Outside the health-care meeting rooms, members of the Canadian Health Coalition held
a rally, calling on the country's health ministers to halt any further privatization of health
care in Canada. The coalition is also calling on the federal government to fulfill its
commitment to pass legislation instituting universal pharmacare by the end of this year,
and should pin conditions or requirements to those transfers to ensure the funds go
directly to delivering public health care.
This article very well organizes knowledge, truthfulness. It is in public interest (coalition
and social activists point is mentioned), proportional and relevant news. If we talk about
newsworthiness, it is relevant (in Canada and internationally), importance or impact (the
medical system and health policies affect the whole country). This article followed
straight news account.

It is relevant because change in existing health policy or addition of new health policy
impact the citizens of the country. This policy gives relief to healthcare workers to work
anywhere in the country in upcoming years and potential relief to international
healthcare workers to start working in Canada by applying from overseas.
Indigenous people’s healthcare careers are well taken care of in this policy.

Now Ana will talk about some more national, U.S and U.K. news.

4. Govt cancels leaves of staff involved in dengue control (International).

Indian Express, Oct. 12, 2023
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-cancels-leaves-staff-involved-dengue-
control-8978994/

Details:
● Dengue fever is a viral disease that is spread by infected mosquitoes. Cleanliness
drives will continue on the hospital premises on a regular basis. Leaves of all the
officials/staff associated with dengue management throughout the state will remain
canceled till the situation improves. Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi held a meeting with
the district magistrates, chief medical officers of all districts, principals/medical
superintendents of all medical colleges on the dengue situation in the state.It was
decided in the meeting that a special cleanliness drive will be taken up on October 15
and 16 in all villages and municipal wards, hospitals, schools, all government
premises, and steps will be taken for the reduction of mosquito breeding sources.
This news adheres to the journalistic practices of public interest and truthfulness. It is
timely reported and covers the impact of Dengue fever so it is newsworthy.
It is relevant as Many international students travel from India to other countries
(including Canada) so there is a chance that they can carry infection while the virus
circulates in their body. It affects the public at large.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!!!