Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Sep, 2017 10:46 AM
The Ontario government has introduced a new bill it says will improve transparency in the province's health care system. The wide-ranging changes would amend 10 existing pieces of legislation if passed. Here are the key changes:
Mandatory disclosure of any payments pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers make to health care professionals.
Granting paramedics the ability to transport patients to non-hospital settings, like a mental health facility, following a 911 call.
New enforcement tools that would include higher fines and change the safety inspection program for the province's long-term care homes.
Clear regulations to ease public health enforcement of recreational water facilities like splash pads and wading pools and personal service settings like barber shops, tattoo parlours and nail salons.
A new licensing regime for community health facilities which operate medical radiation devices like X-rays, CT scanners and ultrasound machines.
New regulations for diagnostic medical sonographers who operate ultrasound machines.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he's aware of B.C.'s struggles dealing with the rising tide of opioid deaths, but there are no plans to legalize illicit substances like heroin as part of the response.
Seven organizations that received funding include the Ending Violence Association of B.C. and the Women Against Violence Against Women Rape Crisis Centre.
CRANBROOK, B.C. — The BC Wildfire Service says the unprecedented, aggressive behaviour of three blazes in southeastern British Columbia has forced firefighting crews to withdraw from the area.
