Although the costs of new pharmaceuticals are often the subject of critical media coverage, they are rarely juxtaposed with the benefits that these new drugs bring. Among other things, new research presented in this Research Paper investigates the impact that pharmaceutical innovation had on utilization of hospital care by cancer patients in Canada from 1995 to 2012.

The development of new drugs and its impact.

The efficiency of clinics led by specialized nurse practitioners

Doctorless clinics.

Seven reform ideas to improve health care for all Quebecers.

The effectiveness of plain packaging.

Quebec’s Health Minister, Gaétan Barrette, recently announced that the government wanted to transform the funding method for medical facilities in the health network by adopting activity-based funding, a model which the MEI has analyzed a number of times in recent years and which is the norm in most industrialized countries. This is a step in the right direction when it comes to reducing waiting times in Quebec hospitals.

Activity-based funding of hospitals could help reduce wait times if accompanied by other, complementary measures.

Quebec plans to introduce 50 superclinics.

Quebec’s Health Department is senselessly blocking the opening of clinics run by nurse practitioners who specialize in front-line care. Yet these doctorless clinics would respond to real needs among the population, access to front-line care being one of the main failings of Quebec’s health system. Moreover, a nurse practitioner costs the health care system around 1/3 of what a general practitioner costs, shows an Economic Note published by the MEI.