Category: Advocacy, Policy, Public Health

Canada needs universal, public pharmacare now more than ever

Posted On: Friday, May 29th, 2020

Via the Canadian Health Coalition Over 185 organizations from across Canada released a joint statement calling on the federal government to immediately implement universal, public pharmacare as part of its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The statement is supported by a diverse coalition representing health care providers, non-profit organizations, unions, workers, seniors, patients, and the business community… Read more »

Workplace Resources for Employers and Workers in consideration of COVID-19

Posted On: Friday, May 29th, 2020

With people returning to workplaces in BC’s Restart Plan, employers and workers alike may be wondering what this means going forward. Below you’ll find a few things to consider for the weeks and months ahead.*  We suggest PAN members consult the Restart Plan, the BC Centre for Disease Control COVID-19 resources, and Work Safe BC… Read more »

Hep C in Focus: Special Virtual Event

Posted On: Thursday, May 21st, 2020

Join us for this special event! Hep C in Focus is a special virtual event featuring presentations, community networking, and resources. Registration provides access to all sessions of the day, which is scheduled to include breaks. You may join any of the sessions using the same registration link. Hep C in Focus is produced in… Read more »

Changes to PharmaNet: What PLHIV need to know…

Posted On: Wednesday, May 20th, 2020

via AIDS Vancouver. AIDS Vancouver has written a letter to Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, Antiretroviral (ARV) Prescriptions on Pharmanet—Additional Resources Required. It reads in part, We appreciate that the announcement and some related materials online explicitly reference patient privacy as a key concern for PLHIV. Still, AIDS Vancouver does not believe that such… Read more »

Letter to Canadian Government: decriminalize simple possession immediately

Posted On: Friday, May 15th, 2020

This week, PAN signed onto this letter from the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Pivot Legal Society and the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition – they joined forces to call on the Minister of Health and other key ministers in the federal government to immediately decriminalize the possession of illicit drugs in response to the twin crises… Read more »

Webinar: Fighting stigma and offering support for people who use meth

Posted On: Friday, May 15th, 2020

Date: Thursday June 18, 2020 Time: 10 AM, Pacific time Crystal meth is a commonly used drug in BC, so HIV, hep C and harm reduction organizations and advocates may well work with people using meth. What do we need to know about crystal meth’s affects on health and spirit to best support people using… Read more »

IMPORTANT Information regarding the Addition of Antiretroviral Therapies in PharmaNet

Posted On: Friday, May 15th, 2020

  PAN has become aware of important information we want to share with all people living with HIV in BC and community-based ASOs. The Government of British Columbia recently announced that effective May 4, 2020, the dispensing pharmacies for the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) Drug Treatment Program will begin entering antiretroviral (ARV)… Read more »

Webinar: Q&A session about Safe Supply with Guy Felicella

Posted On: Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

Updated May 20, 2020 BC has released new guidance on providing safe supply to people who use drugs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We have heard from PAN member and allied organizations about uncertainty on how these changes will be implemented, and how people can access safe supply across the province. To help answer these questions… Read more »

Update on Summit 2020 Programming

Posted On: Monday, May 11th, 2020

Via CBRC The CBRC team continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada and its impact on our research and programming activities, including our annual Summit, which last year brought together over 300 participants from across Canada and around the world. While CBRC remains committed to delivering a unique and interactive conference during the scheduled… Read more »

Statement: A Setback for Prisoners’ Rights and Public Health

Posted On: Monday, May 4th, 2020

from the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network The following statement is issued by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network. Comments can be attributed to Sandra Ka Hon Chu, Director of Research and Advocacy. Please visit the Legal Network site for media contacts and further information.  May 1, 2020 — In a disappointing decision, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice… Read more »

Statement on COVID-19 and Criminalization from CCRHC

Posted On: Monday, May 4th, 2020

from the Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization Faced with an unprecedented public health crisis, all levels of government in Canada have actively adopted measures and policies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization (CCRHC), a national coalition of people living with HIV, community organizations, lawyers, researchers and others,… Read more »

Looking Forward: Supporting Environmental Sustainability at PAN

Posted On: Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020

At PAN, our Approaches include social change and equity.  An essential piece of supporting the “dignity, health and wellness of all people” is recognizing the interdependence of all species, and the urgent need to take active steps to prevent the destruction of the ecology and environment on which we all rely. Late in 2019, PAN… Read more »