2023 was another challenging year in Canadian health care. The system continues to contend with overwhelm and there’s been no shortage of crises in emergency rooms, primary care offices and operating rooms.
But there’s also been much work done in search of solutions. There are a number of proposed plans – resolutions, if you will – laid out to deal with these crises across the provinces and territories.
Provinces have slowly begun to sign on to Ottawa’s $196 billion, 10-year health-care solutions proposal.
Provinces have also resolved to tackle general health-care staff shortages and increased demand. B.C. plans to restructure funding models in long-term care; Ontario is slated to invest $1.18 billion this year to continue funding 3,500 hospital beds across the province, including $7,738,000 for 34 beds in Thunder Bay. Many experts have also championed the value of team-based care as a means to address the primary care physician shortage.
But not all New Year’s resolutions are without contention. Some provinces, like Alberta, have proclaimed a bold set of goals in the form of radically dismantling its current patient-care model, a restructuring that has been criticized for setting the foundation for increased privatization of health services.
Generally speaking, the efficacy of New Year’s resolutions isn’t great. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t continue to set goals for the year ahead.
In a time of upheaval and undoubtedly significant professional strain, we wanted to know what health-care experts themselves had on their New Year’s resolution lists.
Katharine Smart – pediatrician and former president of the Canadian Medical Association
My New Year’s resolution is to continue to focus on my own health so I can show up as the best version of myself for my children, friends, family, colleagues and patients. For me that means hitting my Peloton regularly, mindfulness, gratitude practice, working on my sleep and improving my nutrition. Staying connected with the people who matter to me and finding joy in the small things every day. I am grateful for a career I truly love and want to stay as healthy as I can so I can continue to show up for the people who count on me.
Muhammad Mamdani – vice president of Data Science and Advanced Analytics at Unity Health Toronto
I usually don’t make any New Year’s resolutions so this one is easy! It’s always good to spend some time and reflect on the past year – what went well and what didn’t both professionally and personally – and think about how to adapt to make this coming year better than the last.
Naheed Dosani – palliative care physician and assistant professor at the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto
I’ve always felt strongly about this issue. Politically, we’re living in a time when there’s been a lot of lip service paid to pharmacare. We’ve seen the reports, we have robust evidence about how it will help Canadians and can even save our economy a lot of money in the long run. 2024 is here and now is the time for action. I’m very hopeful for this kind of change this coming year.
Andrew Longhurst – health policy researcher and PhD candidate at Simon Fraser University
My New Year’s resolution is to continue to advocate through research and policy analysis for two main things. First, the use of evidence to reduce COVID-19 burden on health systems and population health. Second, to address the problems associated with profit-driven health care and the evidence-based policy solutions to improve health-care access for Canadians.
Anthony Fong – emergency physician and clinical assistant professor at UBC’s Department of Emergency Medicine
My New Year’s resolution is to work on my mentorship and leadership skills. Right now, I’m supporting medical students in a project where they will facilitate an emergency medical team to develop disaster preparedness skills. Whether it’s through teaching, volunteering or doing research, I want to be a health-care leader who supports others to be their best selves so that they’re empowered to do great work.
My second resolution is to learn how to say “no” more often. Over the years, juggling family, friends, clinical work, research and my various volunteer positions has stretched me to the max. With a baby due in the new year, 2024 will be a good opportunity to “spring clean” my schedule and prioritize the most fulfilling aspects of my work.
