July

Tuberculosis control for aboriginal persons living on reserve in British Columbia (BC) is administered out of the BC Centre for Disease Control through Tuberculosis Services for Aboriginal Communities, in partnership with the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Canada.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem for aboriginal people in Canada due to the existing pool of latent TB infection and ongoing disease transmission. The incidence of TB remains more than 10 to 15 times that of the non-aboriginal/Canadian-born population.

An issue being heard by the Supreme Court of Canada [on 4 June 2004] has the potential to dramatically change how we view Canada’s medical/health care system and possibly even the June election. The Supreme Court is hearing a challenge brought by two Quebec physicians arguing that the Canada Health Act violates the Canadian Charter. Currently, it is illegal for any Canadian citizen to purchase private medical- or hospital-care insurance. The Canada Health Act dictates that all such services must be provided under the government program.

In the May issue of the BCMJ (2004;46[4]:164) you have defended your decision to publish the article on acupuncture (“Treatment of fibromyalgia with acupuncture and counseling,” 2004;46[1]:21-23) in response to a letter to the editor from Dr Oppel (2004;46[4]:169,171).

I was intrigued by the literature review of Drs Clement and Taunton in the recent BCMJ (“Extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the management of plantar fasciitis,” 2004;46[4]:174-178).

While appreciating the complexity of this type of therapy, I would find it difficult to persuade someone to pay the required $895. Painful heels are not limited to those who are “well-heeled.”

Tired of hearing about the woes of our health system? Loath to read yet another editorial on medicare? Take some consolation in the fact that this may be one of the last editorials needed on this topic. On 8 June 2004, the day after the 60th anniversary of D-Day, I returned from a visit to the Supreme Court of Canada where, as one of several intervenors, I listened to a Canadian Charter-based challenge to the constitutionality of our state-imposed restrictions on access to supplementary nongovernment health care.