This week in Canadian healthcare, major provincial investments in life sciences contrast with ongoing challenges in healthcare delivery and access, highlighting the promise and current limitations of our healthcare system.
The Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) Ideas to ActionForum marked its 15th anniversary with a sold-out gathering on November 13th atBorden Ladner Gervais LLP, bringing together influential voices from industry,government, and academia. The forum, themed "Reflecting on 15 Years andPowering Ontario's Hard Pivot to the Future," emphasized Ontario’sgrowth, innovation, and resilience in the life sciences sector.
Deloitte's Health Futurist Zayna Khayat opened the event with a keynote examining the evolution of health technology while emphasizing the need for system leaders, industry governments, and healthcare providers to fundamentally change their thinking to overcome an epidemic of"nowism."
The forum featured several expert panels addressing core themes shaping the sector:
- Ontario's Opportunities in Life Sciences, featuring insights from ecosystem leaders including Maura Campbell of OBIO and Peter van der Velden of Lumira Ventures.
- Life Sciences Thought Leadership, moderated by LSO President Jason Field, with leaders from BIOTECanada and Medtech Canada discussing policy and regulatory considerations.
- Strengthening Canadian Anchor Companies, with panelists including Christine Allen from the University of Toronto and Mike Canzoneri of Canadian Hospital Specialties.
- Engaging Government Strategically, led by Delphic Research's National Director for Life Sciences Mark Smithyes, featuring provincial political strategists.
- Frontiers of Technology in Life Sciences, with experts like Doug Baumann of ViveCrop Protection and Alexis Sciuk from Pfizer.
- Preparing for Personalized Medicine, led by Dr. Carolyn Cummins of PRiME, focusing on innovations in genomics and precision health.
The event culminated with significant announcements from Ontario's Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade, Vic Fedeli. Minister Fedeli hinted that further announcements are coming to support the province’s “hard pivot” to the life sciences.
Fedeli highlighted Ontario's impressive metrics:72,000 current life sciences workers with a goal of reaching 85,000 by 2030, complemented by 70,000 STEM graduates and 85,000 AI graduates. He noted that Ontario hosts 10 of the world's top pharmaceutical companies conducting clinical trials, reinforcing its potential as a global hub for biomanufacturing and life sciences. Fedeli praised LSO and its leadership, particularly acknowledging Dr. Jason Field, President and CEO of LSO, for his dedication to Ontario’s life sciences growth.
While Ontario pushes forward with ambitious life sciences initiatives, a new study reveals significant gaps in current healthcare delivery. Research from the Menopause Foundation of Canada has highlighted a concerning disconnect in women's healthcare support, finding that approximately half of the Canadian women aged 40-60 feel unprepared for perimenopause/menopause. The findings underscore a critical gap in healthcare delivery, with most respondents reporting that family physicians rarely discuss menopause with them, leading to a sense of being undertreated and underserved by their healthcare providers.
Adding to concerns about healthcare access and administration, federal retirees shared their concerns about the recent transition of their dental benefits from Sun Life to Canada Life. The $ 514 million contract switch, affecting approximately 1.7 million federal public servants, retirees, and their dependents, has encountered implementation difficulties.
Several retirees experienced frustration due to the transition, citing that they could not reach a call centre agent and were denied medications. The Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) asserted that lessons learned from the Public Service Health Care Plan transition were applied to facilitate a smoother switch for the dental plan.
These developments paint a complex picture of Canadian healthcare; while significant investments promise future innovations, current gaps in healthcare delivery and program administration continue to affect Canadians' access to essential services.
Stay tuned to Delphic Research for further insights into these critical healthcare developments.
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