Fall 2007

IN MEMORY OF ANN QUALMAN

Ann Qualman:  Making an ever lasting difference

Ann Qualman's effort on behalf of people with arthritis created a legacy of dedicated research funding that supported the establishment of the Canadian Cochrane MSK group and the Canadian Arthritis Network. Her belief that those affected by a decision should be involved in making that decision resulted in the creation of CAPA. read more | comments

ACTION ITEMS

The Ontario election:  Has health care been abandoned?

The spotlight in the Ontario election shines on many priorities including education and crime. Health care, it seems, has become a minor issue which raises the question: Has it been fixed or abandoned? read more | comments

Are you being served? Report on Common Drug Review due in the fall

Different stakeholders bring different perspectives to The Standing Committee on Health hearings. Read what those affected the most by drug decisions are saying. read more | comments

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

The changing face of CAPA

CAPA is adding a new logo to it's status as a non-profit corporation. Membership is growing faster than ever and applications and queries are coming in from as far away as Europe. read more | comments

COMMENT AND PERSPECTIVE

Re-examining the role of episodic disabilities in the workplace

Policy changes and a coordinated approach that includes people with disabilities, governments, public and private insurers, and disability-related specialists are essential to generate a vision of labour force participation when people with disabilities are able to work. read more | comments

Cochrane research summaries aid in decision making and communicating with medical team

Savvy people with arthritis are reading Cochrane research summaries. Many become involved in reviewing summaries before they are published to ensure that they are relevant to people with musculoskeletal disease. Are you savvy? Do you want to participate? read more | comments

In my next life I’ll be a scientific researcher:  The CARRA Conference

Is the approach to childhood arthritis and rheumatology research different within CARRA? Who are the pediatric rheumatologists involved in CARRA, where do they work and what are their goals? read more | comments

Canada Health Infoway:  Look IT up

Most of us shop or bank on-line and access information through the Internet without giving it a second thought. Will electronic storing, retrieval and transmission of our health records give us palpitations or improve patient safety? read more | comments

Inside the briefcase: Take a look

• Counterfeit medicines are a serious threat to the health of people around the world. ProtectMyMeds.com offers a comprehensive resource for up-to-date information on counterfeit medicines including position statements from international patient and health care organizations.

• Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. has complied with a request from Health Canada to cease the sales and marketing of Prexige (*), a COX-2 selective inhibitor for the treatment of osteoarthritis, with immediate effect.

• Celebrex made headlines again this year with Alberta’s decision to halt “full coverage” of the drug that scores of patients rely on to achieve a reasonable quality of life. What are other provinces doing? Check out Celebrex listing decisions across Canadian public drug plans.

• UCB Pharma Canada announces recipients of the inaugural UCBeyond Crohn’s Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis Scholarship Programs.

TELLING IT LIKE IT IS

Raising awareness:  One voice, a goal and persistence

Shelly Leavitt was determined not to let herself become a victim or prisoner of her disease. Her persistance resulted in phone calls from members of parliament and a letter from Health Minister Tony Clement. read more | comments