Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Ontario's Doctor Shortages, Flu Season Prep, and Men's Health Strategy in the UK

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Ontario's Doctor Shortages, Flu Season Prep, and Men's Health Strategy in the UK · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow, where we keep you informed on the latest medical and health news from around the globe.
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  I am your host, Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, and today we have some pressing topics to discuss, starting with a concerning
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  situation in Ontario, Canada, regarding the potential loss of family doctors due to
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  retirement.
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  According to a report shared by the Ontario Liberals, over three million Ontarians could be
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  at risk of losing their family doctors.
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  The document, which the Liberals say was leaked to them from a concerned member of the
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  healthcare field, indicates that approximately 2,300 family physicians in Ontario are aged
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  sixty or older.
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  These doctors currently serve around 3.1 million patients, raising concerns about a
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  significant gap in primary care if these physicians retire without adequate
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  replacements.
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  Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie has criticized the Conservative government for not having a
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  substantial plan in place to address this looming shortage.
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  She emphasized that this is an issue that should have been anticipated and planned for
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  over the past several years.
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  The government has responded by highlighting their investments in expanding medical school
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  access and increasing the number of medical schools in the province of Ontario.
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  However, Dr.
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  Adil Shamji, the Liberal health critic, pointed out that simply graduating more family doctors
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  is not enough.
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  He noted that out of approximately 17,000 family doctors in Ontario, about 6,000 are not
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  practicing family medicine.
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  Many choose to pursue other specializations like emergency medicine.
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  This highlights the need not only for more graduates but also for a focus on ensuring
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  these graduates practice family medicine.
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  The situation is even more dire in rural areas, with 205 communities in Ontario reportedly
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  lacking family doctors who are accepting new patients.
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  Dr.
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  Dominik Nowak, president of the Ontario Medical Association, described the family medicine
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  situation in Ontario as not just a crisis, but a catastrophe.
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  He shared that in some communities, nearly one in two people are unable to find a family
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  doctor.
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  In response to these challenges, the Ontario government has announced plans to expand the
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  roles of nurse practitioners.
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  Starting July 1, 2025, nurse practitioners will be able to order and apply a defibrillator,
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  cardiac pacemaker, and perform electrocoagulation.
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  Additionally, registered nurses will be able to certify expected deaths, and nurse
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  practitioners will be able to do so in more circumstances.
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  These changes aim to alleviate some of the pressure on the healthcare system.
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  Despite these efforts, the issue remains complex.
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  Dr.
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  Shamji stressed the importance of not only increasing the number of family doctors but
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  also ensuring they are adequately supported to practice family medicine.
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  The Ontario government has also tapped Dr.
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  Jane Philpott, a former federal Liberal health minister, to lead a team dedicated to
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  connecting Ontarians with family doctors, which is seen as a step in the right direction.
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  As we look to the future, it's clear that addressing the impending retirement of family
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  doctors in Ontario requires a multifaceted approach.
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  It's not just about numbers, but about ensuring the right support and infrastructure are in
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  place to meet the needs of patients across the province.
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  As Canada enters its influenza season, there's growing concern that the severe flu outbreak
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  experienced by Australia could serve as a warning for what might come.
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  Australia recently recorded its worst flu season on record, with over 352,000
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  laboratory-confirmed cases, surpassing the previous high set in 2019.
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  This surge in flu cases has been attributed in part to declining vaccination rates, which have
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  been steadily dropping over the past two years.
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  Dr.
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  Brian Conway, from the Vancouver Infectious Disease Centre, highlighted the importance of
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  vaccination, noting that a 15-percent reduction in vaccination rates in Australia led to an
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  increase in both cases and mortality.
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  He emphasized that people seemed to have forgotten the importance of getting their flu
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  vaccines, resulting in higher death rates across all age groups.
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  Australia's flu season typically runs from May to October, and this year the dominant strain
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  was the A(H3N2) virus.
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  This strain is known for causing more severe illness, particularly among older adults, young
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  children, and those with weakened immune systems.
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  While it's too early in Canada's flu season to determine the dominant strain, the country's
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  weekly flu watch data indicates that influenza A(H1N1) is currently the most commonly detected
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  strain.
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  Dr.
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  Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist in Toronto, cautioned that while trends from
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  the southern hemisphere can offer insights, they are not always reliable predictors for
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  Canada's influenza season.
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  He pointed out that influenza is "predictably unpredictable," and the flu season can take
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  unexpected turns.
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  Australia's record-breaking flu season also raised concerns about public perception of
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  influenza.
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  Surveys conducted by the Immunisation Coalition found that many Australians view influenza as
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  not serious, leading to lower vaccination rates.
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  Rodney Pearce, chairperson of the Immunisation Council, called the high number of cases a
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  "wake-up call," stressing the importance of vaccination to protect vulnerable populations
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  and the community at large.
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  In Canada, influenza vaccine coverage has already begun, although it's still early to
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  gauge the exact uptake.
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  Last year's national data showed a 42-percent vaccination coverage, similar to the previous
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  year.
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  While seniors had a higher coverage rate at 73 percent, only 44 percent of adults aged 18 to
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  64 with chronic medical conditions received the flu shot.
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  The most common reason for not getting vaccinated was the belief that the vaccine was
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  unnecessary.
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  Despite these challenges, Dr.
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  Conway stressed the need for ongoing vaccination efforts.
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  He noted that although Canada managed to maintain an average flu year with 100,000
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  cases, several hundred deaths, and thousands of hospitalizations, the country cannot afford an
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  increase in these numbers.
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  As the season progresses, more flu cases are expected, and it's crucial for Canadians to get
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  vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
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  Let's delve into a fascinating area of research that suggests saying 'thanks' could improve
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  your health and may even lengthen your life.
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  This might sound like a buzzword trend, but it is actually backed by research.
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  Earlier this year, a study published in JAMA Psychiatry examined the health records of
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  thousands of senior female nurses, revealing that those who practiced gratitude had a nine
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  percent lower risk of death from any cause compared to those who did not.
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  The study focused on nearly fifty thousand female registered nurses, aged seventy-nine and
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  older, who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study from two thousand sixteen to two thousand
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  nineteen.
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  Part of the data collected included responses to a six-item gratitude questionnaire.
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  Four years later, researchers analyzed the medical records to see which nurses had since
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  passed away.
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  They found that those who scored favorably on the gratitude questionnaire had a nine percent
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  lower hazard of death from any cause than those who scored less favorably.
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  Dr.
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  Chris Mosunic, the Chief Clinical Officer at Calm, a meditation and relaxation app,
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  describes gratitude as the act of feeling thankful for what you have, whether it be
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  people, events, circumstances, or even intangible aspects like good health or personal
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  growth.
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  He frames gratitude as an act of mindfulness, encouraging us to take a deep breath, slow
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  down, and focus on the positives in our lives.
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  The study's authors noted that the experience of grateful affect is associated with increased
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  longevity among older adults.
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  While a nine percent reduction in mortality risk might not seem enormous, Tyler
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  VanderWeele, a co-author of the research, pointed out that gratitude is accessible to
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  everyone.
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  Anyone can recognize the good around them and express thanks, making this practice a powerful
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  tool for improving well-being.
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  If you're interested in incorporating gratitude into your life, there are several ways to do
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  so.
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  You can practice mentally, jot down your thoughts with pen and paper, or use digital
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  tools like apps that offer prompts or reminders.
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  Gratitude is like a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it gets.
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  Start small by noting one thing you're grateful for each week, and gradually increase this
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  practice to daily reflections.
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  Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, is increasingly
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  recognized as a significant public health concern, leading to higher healthcare demands
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  and increased costs.
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  This condition encompasses a range of lingering symptoms that persist long after the initial
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  COVID-19 infection has resolved.
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  These symptoms can include fatigue, difficulty breathing, and cognitive impairments, among
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  others, and can last for weeks or even months.
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  A recent study highlighted that individuals suffering from long COVID require more frequent
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  medical visits, which in turn places a substantial burden on healthcare systems.
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  This increased demand not only affects the availability of healthcare resources but also
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  contributes to the rising costs associated with managing these patients.
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  The study estimated that healthcare utilization by long COVID patients is significantly higher
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  compared to those who have fully recovered from the virus.
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  Dr.
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  Stephanie Smith, an infectious disease specialist, commented on the study's findings,
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  noting that the impact of long COVID is multifaceted.
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  "It's not just about the direct medical costs," she said.
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  "There are also indirect costs, including lost productivity and the psychological toll on
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  patients and their families, which can be quite substantial."
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  As healthcare systems worldwide continue to grapple with the aftereffects of the pandemic,
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  the long-term implications of long COVID remain a critical area of focus.
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  Efforts are being made to better understand this condition and develop effective management
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  strategies to support those affected.
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  This includes ongoing research into the underlying mechanisms of long COVID and
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  potential therapeutic interventions.
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  Additionally, there's a growing emphasis on the need for comprehensive care models that
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  integrate physical rehabilitation, mental health support, and social services.
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  Such models aim to address the complex needs of long COVID patients holistically, ensuring they
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  receive the necessary care to improve their quality of life.
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  In conclusion, long COVID represents a significant challenge for both patients and
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  healthcare systems.
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  As we continue to learn more about this condition, it's crucial to implement strategies
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  that mitigate its impact and provide support to those affected.
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  The healthcare community must remain vigilant and adaptable to meet the evolving demands
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  posed by long COVID.
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  Moving on to the United Kingdom, there's promising news on the horizon for men's health.
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  The UK government has announced its plans to develop a dedicated men's health strategy,
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  which aims to tackle some of the most critical health issues affecting men of all ages.
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  This initiative, spearheaded by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, is expected to address
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  mental health and suicide prevention, heart disease, and prostate cancer, among other
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  concerns.
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  During a men's health summit hosted by Arsenal and the Premier League, alongside the charity
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  Movember, Secretary Streeting emphasized the urgency of addressing these health challenges.
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  He noted the alarming statistic that suicide is the leading cause of death for men under the
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  age of fifty, and preventable conditions like heart disease and prostate cancer are often
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  detected too late.
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  On average, men in the UK die nearly four years earlier than women and are disproportionately
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  affected by several health conditions, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
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  Men are also less likely to seek help for mental health issues, a trend that this
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  strategy aims to change.
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  Secretary Streeting also highlighted the impact of social media on men's self-esteem and body
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  image, acknowledging that these pressures are similar to those faced by women.
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  Importantly, Secretary Streeting made it clear that focusing on men's health does not detract
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  from the efforts being made in women's health.
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  He expressed frustration with the notion that men's and women's health initiatives are in
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  opposition, emphasizing instead the need for comprehensive strategies for both.
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  As part of this initiative, the UK government will soon open a call for evidence, inviting
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  organizations and individuals to share their insights on improving men's health.
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  Men across the country are encouraged to contribute their views on how to make the
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  National Health Service fit for the future.
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  Michelle Terry, the chief executive of Movember, highlighted the broader impact of
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  improving men's health, noting that the benefits extend beyond individuals to families,
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  communities, and even the economy.
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  She stated that transforming men's health can have positive ripple effects, improving the
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  lives of men and those around them.
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  It's worth noting that the UK's women's health strategy, published in 2022, also identified
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  gaps in addressing women's health issues, such as miscarriage and menopause, and called for
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  better representation of women in clinical trials.
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  This underscores the need for balanced attention to health issues across genders,
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  ensuring that both men and women receive the care and support they need.
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  As we conclude today's episode, it's heartening to see the UK taking steps towards a
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  comprehensive men's health strategy.
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  Addressing these pressing health issues is crucial for improving the quality of life for
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  men and their families.
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  Thank you for joining me today on Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Stay tuned for more updates on health and medical news from around the world.
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  Take care and stay healthy.