September

British Columbia’s health authorities have formed a single BC Health Au­thorities Pharmacy and Therapeutics (BCHA P&T) Committee to make recommendations regarding drugs that will become or not become part of your hospital’s formulary. Because there is now only one body for all hospitals in BC, the recommendations of BCHA P&T affect all physicians who practise in BC hospitals.

References

Dr Shelley Ross (photo by Karen Tregillas)

BCMJ Managing Editor Jay Draper spoke to Dr Ross in July, 1 month into her presidency. Here is a condensed version of their conversation.

In 1982 a group of clinicians and scientists in the UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology began offering in vitro fertilization services at UBC Hospital. IVF was in its infancy in North America, and no “made in Canada” IVF pregnancy had been achieved. After some months of unsuccessful attempts, the program shifted to Shaughnessy Hospital where, in the summer of 1983, success was finally achieved. Robby Reid, Canada’s first “test-tube baby,” was born at Vancouver’s Grace Maternity Hospital on 25 December 1983—premature, but healthy.

Think Again is the name of Participaction’s campaign to raise awareness that children and youth are not as active as they should be, and many parents are unaware of the recommended level of activity for children. The goal is for kids (children age 5 to 11 and youth age 12 to 17) to be active for 60 minutes every day. In theory, school should be providing 30 minutes of daily physical activity, and kids themselves should be making up the rest. The reason, of course, is to help kids stay healthy and help prevent childhood obesity.