Year: 2021

“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised after meeting with premiers that the federal government will increase transfer payments to the provinces for health care after the immediate crisis of the pandemic is over.

It’s not the immediate increase of at least $28 billion more in unconditional transfers each year the premiers were seeking. However, Trudeau said the federal government will increase its share of the cost of health care in the years to come, and continue to help provinces with extra costs linked to the pandemic, ‘whatever it takes, as long as this pandemic lasts.’

That includes fully covering the cost of COVID-19 vaccines, so ‘the provinces and territories won’t have to use their funding,’ and creating a federal compensation program for people who experience rare adverse reactions.”

More on Trudeau promises to boost federal health transfers when the pandemic is over via CMAJ.

“Lyme disease, caused by the tick-borne spirochete bacterium Borrelia spp., is becoming increasingly prevalent in Canada. Lyme carditis is a rare but important early disseminated manifestation of the disease, which can present with high-degree atrioventricular block in otherwise healthy young adults. Timely treatment of Lyme carditis with appropriate antibiotics can lead to complete resolution. However, patients with Lyme carditis often have missed or late diagnoses, which can result in unnecessary pacemaker implantations, complications, and even fatalities. Considering Lyme carditis in the differential diagnosis of young patients presenting with new atrioventricular blocks is critical to ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment.”

Lyme Carditis: A Can’t Miss Diagnosis via BCMJ.

For last year’s words belong to last year’s language.
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~ T.S. Eliot