The pace of health care spending in Canada continues to slow, according to a new report.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information released its report on health expenditures on Tuesday, saying it is expected to reach $207 billion in 2012.
Health care spending as a share of the economy and of provincial government spending has fallen, said Dr. Michael Rachlis, a health policy consultant in Toronto commenting on the report.
"The current received wisdom is that health care costs are just rising inexorably out of control. So that's why a data release that's saying something moderate about moderating spending data is of news."
The proportion of Canada's gross domestic product or GDP spent on health care is expected to reach 11.6 per cent this year compared with an all-time high of 11.9 per cent in 2010, the institute said, as provincial and territorial governments focus on controlling health care costs.
"Weaker prospects for economic growth combined with fiscal deficits and fewer savings from debt service charges could have a dampening effect on the future growth of public-sector health spending," the report's authors concluded.
"Managing health-specific price inflation for core medicare goods and services, including doctors, nurses, other health care professionals and advanced diagnostics, will be a challenge."
The growth of spending on physicians, 14.4 per cent, hospitals, 29.2 per cent, and drugs, 15.9 per cent, all slowed but continued to account for the largest share of health dollars.
In 2012, hospital spending will grow by 3.1 per cent and physicians by 3.6 per cent — the lowest rates of growth since the late 1990s, CIHI said.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information released its report on health expenditures on Tuesday, saying it is expected to reach $207 billion in 2012.
Health care spending as a share of the economy and of provincial government spending has fallen, said Dr. Michael Rachlis, a health policy consultant in Toronto commenting on the report.
"The current received wisdom is that health care costs are just rising inexorably out of control. So that's why a data release that's saying something moderate about moderating spending data is of news."
The proportion of Canada's gross domestic product or GDP spent on health care is expected to reach 11.6 per cent this year compared with an all-time high of 11.9 per cent in 2010, the institute said, as provincial and territorial governments focus on controlling health care costs.
"Weaker prospects for economic growth combined with fiscal deficits and fewer savings from debt service charges could have a dampening effect on the future growth of public-sector health spending," the report's authors concluded.
"Managing health-specific price inflation for core medicare goods and services, including doctors, nurses, other health care professionals and advanced diagnostics, will be a challenge."
The growth of spending on physicians, 14.4 per cent, hospitals, 29.2 per cent, and drugs, 15.9 per cent, all slowed but continued to account for the largest share of health dollars.
In 2012, hospital spending will grow by 3.1 per cent and physicians by 3.6 per cent — the lowest rates of growth since the late 1990s, CIHI said.
Another earthquake has rattled the north coast of B.C.
The 6.2-magnitude tremor was recorded at 7:29 p.m. PT Monday at a depth of about 10 kilometres and was centred about 260 kilometres southwest of Prince Rupert, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
There were no reports of injury or damage.
It is very close to the same area of Saturday's 7.7 magnitude quake.
The U.S. National Weather Service said the latest quake was not expected to generate a tsunami.
The tremor came as questions are being raised about the B.C. government's response to the weekend earthquake off the northwest coast, after officials took more than half an hour to issue a tsunami warning.
Seismologists say aftershocks like the latest one are normal. But Masset fire chief Stephen Grosse said that comes as little comfort to residents.
"People are like pins and needles around here right now," Grosse said. "People are too nervous. It scared them pretty bad. They still don't know who to trust, or if they should trust anybody."
Grosse said the rush to stock up on gas, water and non-perishibles left one gas station empty over the weekend
The 6.2-magnitude tremor was recorded at 7:29 p.m. PT Monday at a depth of about 10 kilometres and was centred about 260 kilometres southwest of Prince Rupert, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
There were no reports of injury or damage.
It is very close to the same area of Saturday's 7.7 magnitude quake.
The U.S. National Weather Service said the latest quake was not expected to generate a tsunami.
The tremor came as questions are being raised about the B.C. government's response to the weekend earthquake off the northwest coast, after officials took more than half an hour to issue a tsunami warning.
Seismologists say aftershocks like the latest one are normal. But Masset fire chief Stephen Grosse said that comes as little comfort to residents.
"People are like pins and needles around here right now," Grosse said. "People are too nervous. It scared them pretty bad. They still don't know who to trust, or if they should trust anybody."
Grosse said the rush to stock up on gas, water and non-perishibles left one gas station empty over the weekend
Hurricane Sandy will test Toronto’s ability to deal with a major storm unlike any other in recent history, city officials told a news conference Monday afternoon. Although the city has had to deal with serious flooding, mass power outages and harsh thunderstorms before, said city manager Joe Pennachetti, it’s “the length and scope of this storm that is different.”
Blair Peberdy, a vice president with Toronto Hydro, said he has never seen anything like it before.
“Certainly not in my career if the forecasts are what they say they are. I’ve been with Toronto Hydro for 25, 30 years. So I don’t think we’ve seen one come through as strong as this one,” he said.
Toronto Hydro is predicting tens of thousands of homes could be without power. Outages may last from a couple of hours to a number of days.
The storm, which is expected to take a direct path through Southern Ontario from New York, will pummel the GTA with winds up to 100 km/h. Meteorologists were predicting Toronto would receive 30-50 millimetres of rain by Tuesday night. The brunt of the storm will hit Toronto Tuesday morning.
Mayor Rob Ford advised Torontonians to take down outdoor Halloween decorations, stay off the roads and brace for power outages.
“We are expecting very strong winds, in some situations up to 90 kilometres an hour, and some heavy, heavy rainfall. This means there is potential for materials blowing onto the streets, falling tree branches, flooding and power outages,” said Ford.
In addition to securing loose items, such as waste bins and decorations, the mayor encouraged residents to clear storm sewer grates of leaves and stock up on food, water, flashlights and batteries.
If stoplights go dark, intersections should be treated as four-way stops, he added.
For hydro outages call 416-542-8000. Toronto Hydro will be posting updates on its website as well as tweeting details @TorontoHydro.
In case of non-emergency assistance, such as flooding or fallen branches, contact 311.
There are 32 areas in Toronto, including parts of North York and Rexdale to areas in Scarborough and the Beach, that are prone to “chronic” basement flooding during intense storms.
“We do expect heavy rainfall but it’s spread out over a number of hours, so the sewer system should be able to keep up with it,” said Lou Di Gironimo, the general manager of Toronto Water. “The problem is if the leaves get into the catch basin and start plugging up some of the storm sewers, you may see localized flooding.”
Several pockets are also at risk of road flooding. The Bayview extension and Hoggs Hollow are the most likely to have a problem. City crews are working in the area to ensure drainage systems are clear.
Meanwhile, Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur told reporters at Queen’s Park that Emergency Management Ontario would assist any municipalities, including Toronto, unable to handle the fallout from the storm.
Meilleur added that the Red Cross and responders from Quebec and Manitoba may be able to assist if Ontario needs extra help.
ORNGE air ambulances were grounded as of 2 p.m. Monday because of the strong winds
Blair Peberdy, a vice president with Toronto Hydro, said he has never seen anything like it before.
“Certainly not in my career if the forecasts are what they say they are. I’ve been with Toronto Hydro for 25, 30 years. So I don’t think we’ve seen one come through as strong as this one,” he said.
Toronto Hydro is predicting tens of thousands of homes could be without power. Outages may last from a couple of hours to a number of days.
The storm, which is expected to take a direct path through Southern Ontario from New York, will pummel the GTA with winds up to 100 km/h. Meteorologists were predicting Toronto would receive 30-50 millimetres of rain by Tuesday night. The brunt of the storm will hit Toronto Tuesday morning.
Mayor Rob Ford advised Torontonians to take down outdoor Halloween decorations, stay off the roads and brace for power outages.
“We are expecting very strong winds, in some situations up to 90 kilometres an hour, and some heavy, heavy rainfall. This means there is potential for materials blowing onto the streets, falling tree branches, flooding and power outages,” said Ford.
In addition to securing loose items, such as waste bins and decorations, the mayor encouraged residents to clear storm sewer grates of leaves and stock up on food, water, flashlights and batteries.
If stoplights go dark, intersections should be treated as four-way stops, he added.
For hydro outages call 416-542-8000. Toronto Hydro will be posting updates on its website as well as tweeting details @TorontoHydro.
In case of non-emergency assistance, such as flooding or fallen branches, contact 311.
There are 32 areas in Toronto, including parts of North York and Rexdale to areas in Scarborough and the Beach, that are prone to “chronic” basement flooding during intense storms.
“We do expect heavy rainfall but it’s spread out over a number of hours, so the sewer system should be able to keep up with it,” said Lou Di Gironimo, the general manager of Toronto Water. “The problem is if the leaves get into the catch basin and start plugging up some of the storm sewers, you may see localized flooding.”
Several pockets are also at risk of road flooding. The Bayview extension and Hoggs Hollow are the most likely to have a problem. City crews are working in the area to ensure drainage systems are clear.
Meanwhile, Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur told reporters at Queen’s Park that Emergency Management Ontario would assist any municipalities, including Toronto, unable to handle the fallout from the storm.
Meilleur added that the Red Cross and responders from Quebec and Manitoba may be able to assist if Ontario needs extra help.
ORNGE air ambulances were grounded as of 2 p.m. Monday because of the strong winds
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