The B.C. government says agreement with the B.C. Pharmacy Association and Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores will save health-care system millions of dollars. Read more…

Ludwig speaks to The Tyee about Friday's decision to give Encana and CSE the go-ahead for a peace bond trial against the notorious B.C. farmer. Read more…

Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said questions of jurisdiction over the safe injection clinic "must be resolved." Read more…

"Mental health and addiction represent roughly 35 per cent of the disease burden in Canada, yet these illnesses receive only about 5 per cent of the resources," former Senator Michael Kirby told a conference on Health of the Homeless. Read more…

In a sweeping judgment, the government regulator struck down seven separate raid applications made by the BC Nurses Union, which had sought to replace the Hospital Employees Union as the union representing licensed practical nurses in BC. Read more…

After years of legal battles, the B.C. government was forced yesterday to reveal the full text of its controversial contract with Maximus BC Health Inc. for the delivery of MSP and PharmaCare services. It also must disclose to the public any fines imposed on Maximus regarding its performance level. Read more…

Public comments from British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. about asbestos risks on the Queen of Burnaby appear to contradict a recent consultant's report on the problem. Read more…

British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. has closed the cafeteria on the Queen of Burnaby because of concerns about exposing passengers and crew to asbestos. Read more…

The World Health Agency said today that the H1N1 influenza pandemic is still going on. But the Public Health Agency of Canada and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control appear to have already forgotten about swine flu. Read more…

The provincial government plans to take bids for part of the work the Therapeutics Initiative now does, but will continue funding the rest of the drug research group’s work, health minister Kevin Falcon said. Read more…

Ten years after Walkerton, a new report warns that Canada has developed a "two-tier" water system that puts rural and First Nations communities at risk. Read more…

Health Canada is targeting the well being of First Nation families through a reference guide -- with "handy home checklist, resource information and useful tips" --aimed at improving the environmental health of homes on and off reserve. Read more…

Workers say say closing the 24-hour Health Contact Centre in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside leaves no option for residents requiring late-night treatment for minor wounds and illnesses, or other important services.

"They're open late at night, they have a drop-in, they serve food," said coordinator Harsha Walia. "You really can't underestimate the value, especially for women, of having a bathroom in the middle of the night." Read more…

British Columbia Health Minister Kevin Falcon dismissed privacy concerns that acting Information and Privacy Commissioner Paul Fraser last week raised about changes to provincial health laws.

“In this case we just fundamentally disagree with the privacy commissioner,” said Falcon. Read more…

Acting information and privacy commissioner Paul Fraser has asked health minister Kevin Falcon to withdraw proposed amendments to health legislation until privacy concerns are fully considered.

“I was taken by surprise to discover these very significant amendments in a miscellaneous bill,” said Fraser in an April 22 letter. “The amendments will allow for extensive sharing of personal information across numerous public bodies.” Read more…

More air quality testing is needed near Victoria's cruise ship docks, British Columbia Environment Minister Barry Penner said today.

“If you don't measure, it's very hard to manage,” said Penner, who last week in the legislature introduced four visiting cruise ship industry representatives. Read more…

B.C.'s health minister says the move to 'patient-focused' funding will increase efficiency and decrease wait times at provincial hospitals, but critics worry it's a foot in the door for for-profit service providers. Read more…

A former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine today criticized the British Columbia government's attack on an independent University of B.C. drug watchdog group.

“If I was the pharmaceutical industry I'd love to get rid of the Therapeutics Initiative for obvious reasons,” said Jerome Kassirer. Read more…

A lawyer acting on behalf of three men charged in a British Columbia health ministry fraud and breach of trust investigation made a brief appearance in provincial court this morning. Read more…

More than 300 volunteers are spread throughout Vancouver today in an effort to learn more about the city's large homeless population. Read more…