Almost One-Third of Canadians Say Back Pain Limiting Their Work & Daily Lives
Canadians urged to #GetSpineActive on World Spine Day to prevent injuries and physical disorders; one in four work absences due to back pain, second only to common cold
TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2019 /CNW/ - According to the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA), more than 11 million Canadians suffer from an injury or disorder that affects their movement, with one in eight reporting a chronic back problem and almost one-third indicating activity limitations due to back pain.
These numbers are higher than they need to be, according to chiropractors across the country who treat approximately 4.5 million Canadians each year. They also shed light on the broad societal and economic impact of those affected, including that forty per cent of all work absences are due to back pain, second only to the common cold.
Coinciding with World Spine Day on October 16, the CCA is raising awareness of the treatment options available to Canadians, and the importance of physical activity, with a campaign called "Get Spine Active" (#GetSpineActive). World Spine Day has become a focus in raising awareness of back pain and other spinal issues. With health professionals, exercise and rehabilitation experts, public health advocates, schoolchildren and patients all taking part, World Spine Day will be celebrated on every continent.
"Canadians who want to improve their physical health and well-being can do so by staying active," said Alison Dantas, Chief Executive Officer at Canadian Chiropractic Association. "Now more than ever, we want to encourage Canadians to consider chiropractors as an integral member of their healthcare team to achieve better outcomes and improve their quality of life."
Chiropractors help Canadians reduce pain, restore function and improve quality of life The spine is a critical part of the body, holding up the head, arms and torso. With over 60 joints in the spine, it's important that they function properly so the spine can keep the body upright while protecting spinal cord and nerves.
Chiropractors are spine, muscle, and nervous system experts who reduce pain and restore function, helping Canadians better manage their musculoskeletal pain. They are musculoskeletal (MSK) experts, providing the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and preventative care originating from the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems. Chiropractic is also a drug-free, non-invasive treatment.
According to the 2017 report All Pain, No Gain: Shining a Light on Canada's Back Pain and Opioid Crisis, 90 per cent of Canadians who have used a chiropractor to help with their muscle and joint pain believe that it improved their overall quality of life, more than any other method. And despite the high levels of satisfaction among those choosing a chiropractor for care, people in under-serviced parts of Canada often have no access to care for spinal pain and disability.
Injuries and physical disorders can become chronic and painful if left untreated The number of Canadians affected by injuries, back pain and physical disorders is so significant that the CCA hopes to spark a robust dialogue among Canadians on World Spine Day around the seriousness of the issue, its impact, and simple ways to prevent and treat it. The most common injuries or disorders treated by chiropractors are sprains, strains, low back pain and neck pain. While conditions can be either mild or severe, they can become chronic if left undiagnosed and untreated.
"Too many Canadians leave their injuries and physical disorders untreated until they are in significant pain which limits mobility and their quality of life," said Dr. Sasha Hamid, an associate chiropractor with the CURAVITA Health Group in Ottawa. "In this case, movement truly is medicine and even simple exercises can help Canadians maintain flexibility and avoid chronic pain. It's time for more Canadians to take control of their physical health and well-being by looking after their spines and staying active."
Easy ways to #GetSpineActive The CCA and Canada's chiropractors have several recommendations to help Canadians #GetSpineActive:
Start Moving: Being physically active helps prevent and manage injuries or disorders related to sprains, strains, low back pain and neck pain. It can also help maintain strength and mobility. Physical activity is also crucial to maintaining overall health, mobility and quality of life and will help ensure Canadians can continue to do the many activities they love.
Get Into a Daily Routine: Doing daily exercise and movement to keep your spine functioning properly may help to prevent joints from getting creaky and painful.
Consult a Chiropractor: Chiropractors help to keep Canadians moving. Despite a common misconception, those suffering don't need a referral to visit one. To learn more about chiropractors and how they can help, visit www.chiropractic.ca.
About World Spine Day and Back Pain Worldwide Taking place on October 16 each year, World Spine Day has become a focus in raising awareness of back pain and other spinal issues. With health professionals, exercise and rehabilitation experts, public health advocates, schoolchildren and patients all taking part, World Spine Day will be celebrated on every continent.
World Spine Day highlights the importance of spinal health and well-being. Promotion of physical activity, good posture, responsible lifting and healthy working conditions are all encouraged, as is people looking after their spines and staying active.
With an estimated one billion people worldwide suffering from back pain, it affects all age groups, from children to the elderly. It is the biggest single cause of disability on the planet, with one in four adults estimated to suffer from back pain during their lives. Prevention is therefore key and this year's World Spine Day will be encouraging people to take steps to be kind to their spines.
About the Canadian Chiropractic Association The Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) is a national association representing Canada's 9,000 licensed Doctors of Chiropractic. Approximately 4.5 million Canadians use the services of a chiropractor each year. The CCA advocates on behalf of members and their patients to advance the quality and accessibility of chiropractic care in Canada and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the healthcare system. For more information on the CCA or for a referral to a doctor of chiropractic, please visit www.chiropractic.ca or contact your provincial association.
SOURCE Canadian Chiropractic Association
HumanisRx launches MedMonitor, the game changer that helps reduce millions in health benefit and disability insurance costs
MARKHAM, ON, Oct. 16, 2019 /CNW/ - Canadian employees are at high risk of medication related problems, leading to serious health risks, increased absenteeism in the workplace and high disability costs for employers, according to new research.
HumanisRx today released the White Paper, A Progressive Approach to Plan Member Health: Predicting the Value of Proactively Resolving Medication Risks in Canadian Workplaces. It finds that medication related issues – such as incompatible or duplicate medications, higher than recommended doses, sub-optimal therapy or failing to take medication as prescribed – is negatively impacting employees' health, causing them to take extended leaves from their jobs. Ultimately, this leads to high benefit and disability costs for employers.
"Our research finds that employees are not optimizing their use of prescription medications – and that's a huge cost driver for Canadian employers and insurance companies," said Jeff May, President of HumanisRx. "But this trend can be reversed through our MedMonitor program and state-of-the-art software, which analyzes drug claim data and initiates pharmacist-led interventions with employees and their healthcare providers."
HumanisRx, in collaboration with Munich Re, GroupHEALTH Benefit Solutions, and Disability Management Institute, recently conducted a retrospective study which examined drug claim data. The study found:
Alerts were generated by one in every four plan members using medications, indicating at least one identified drug therapy problem that may have been related to a safety risk, sub-optimal therapy, or failing to take the drug as prescribed.
Almost 60% of the drug therapy problems identified were due to safety, meaning the plan member was at risk of an adverse outcome.
"Based on the outcomes observed in the retrospective study, we believe that there is value to insurers and plan sponsors adopting a proactive medication optimization strategy for their disability management or health and wellness programs," said Mark Foerster, Vice President Group Operations and Claims at Munich Re.
A valuation model developed by Munich Re estimates that the value of long-term disability savings from proactively identifying medication risks could potentially be up to $2.7 million for a population of 200,000 plan members if all assumptions materialize. A similar model developed by HumanisRx predicts annual short-term disability savings of $3 million for 200,000 plan members, for a total annual disability savings of $5.7 million.
Employers and insurers can reduce absence and disability costs through the implementation of HumanisRx's proactive medication optimization program called MedMonitor. Using a sophisticated set of hundreds of clinical algorithms, HumanisRx's RxCompanionä software identifies employee medication risks, triages them, and initiates an intervention with a HumanisRx pharmacist. The pharmacist then works with the employee and their healthcare providers to resolve the medication related issues and reduce health risks. Improved employee well-being results in decreased workplace absences, less need to hire replacement staff, and lower disability costs.
"Through careful monitoring and analysis of plan members' medication patterns, MedMonitor has the potential to prevent medication risks, lower presenteeism and absenteeism, and offer employers dramatic benefits and disability cost savings," said May.
About HumanisRx HumanisRx, a division of Remedy Holdings Inc., helps Canadians with complex or unique needs get the best results from their medications. Its team of licensed pharmacists consults with plan members and their healthcare providers, offering recommendations to improve their experience with medications.
To download your copy of the White Paper, click here or contact HumanisRx.
SOURCE HumanisRx
Biomedical Zone HeathBound Start Up Challenge 2019/2020 Tackles Technology for Mental Health and Addictions
Applications to participate in this year's event open on October 21, 2019
TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2019 /CNW/ - The Biomedical Zone, a partnership between Ryerson University and St. Michael's Hospital, is pleased to announce a collaboration with Shoppers Drug Mart for its third annual Healthbound Start Up Challenge competition.
This year's challenge will focus on finding innovative, technology-driven solutions from the community that will make a tangible impact for individuals experiencing mental health and/or addiction issues. The winning teams will receive a total of $50,000 as well as residency in the Biomedical Zone health technology incubator to help grow their companies.
"We are thrilled to collaborate with Shoppers Drug Mart in offering our third annual HealthBound Start Up Challenge," said Linda Maxwell, Executive Director of the Biomedical Zone. "We look forward to working with startups from across Canada to showcase innovative and practical technology-driven solutions supporting patients' mental health. This is a timely and important challenge, providing the healthcare community, patients, and caregivers with fresh new ideas, and startups with the opportunity to collaborate with leading healthcare organizations to affect real change."
"Access to mental health resources and solutions for Canadians living with mental illness is one of the biggest challenges facing our patients, our friends and our colleagues across the country," said Theresa Firestone, Senior Vice President, Health and Wellness, Shoppers Drug Mart. "We believe innovative ideas will be required to make meaningful impact and we're excited to work with Ryerson, St. Michael's and the Biomedical Zone on this startup challenge."
HealthBound is an innovation competition that convenes health institutions, startups, clinicians, and end-users of technology to develop solutions around ubiquitous healthcare challenges.
The event's agile approach to innovation supports rapid adaptation and adoption of new technology in a healthcare setting.
Shoppers Drug Mart and the Biomedical Zone chose mental health and addictions as this year's HealthBound theme as it is one of the biggest healthcare challenges facing Canadians today. In fact, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, by the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, one in two have, or have had, a mental illness.
Previous HealthBound challenges have included addressing healthcare-associated infections, and improving the patient experience in outpatient settings.
Last year's HealthBound winner, Verto, created a technology to optimize patient flow and automate administrative tasks which has now been deployed within several Canadian hospitals.
Applications for startups to participate in HealthBound open Monday October 21, 2019 at 12:00 pm and ends on December 13, 2019. Finalists will pitch their companies to a panel of industry experts on February 13, 2019. For further information, or to apply to participate in HealthBound, visit https://www.healthbound-bmz.ca/.
About the Biomedical Zone
Founded in 2015, the Biomedical Zone is Canada's first physician-led, hospital-embedded health technology incubator. A partnership between Ryerson University and St. Michael's Hospital, the Biomedical Zone's first-in-class concurrent business and clinical validation methodology supports startup companies and demonstrates how hospitals can drive economic impact while delivering the highest quality healthcare. To date, the Biomedical Zone has hosted 37 companies and supported the creation of more than 100 startup jobs.
About Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec). With almost 1,300 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada. The company also licenses or owns 47 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé in Québec), and provides cosmetic dermatology services at two standalone locations, the Beauty Clinic. As well, the company owns and operates 43 corporate Wellwise by Shoppers Drug Mart stores and an ecommerce site Wellwise.ca, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services. In addition to its retail store network, the company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, and MediSystem Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities. Shoppers Drug Mart is an independent operating division of Loblaw Companies Limited.
SOURCE Ryerson University
30/30 Peanut Challenge Launches November 1 30 Days to Benefit from Peanut Power
Albany, Ga. (October 16, 2019) – Peanuts have it all. They’re tasty, low-cost and packed with protein, vitamins and minerals. To celebrate this superfood, The Peanut Institute is launching a 30/30 Peanut Challenge. For 30 days, Americans are encouraged to incorporate 30 peanuts or two tablespoons of peanut butter into their daily diet.
Dr. Samara Sterling, director of research for The Peanut Institute and also known as Dr. Peanut, cites peanuts’ significant health benefits as the reason for the challenge.
“Studies in the United States and around the world have found that eating peanuts regularly has been associated with a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Peanut consumption has also been shown to deliver positive effects throughout the entire body and improve overall life expectancy,” explains Sterling.
Peanuts are also extremely budget friendly. Two servings of peanuts cost less than 30 cents and deliver 14 grams of power-packed plant protein.
Other benefits of consuming peanuts and peanut butter include:
Eating peanuts regularly can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 30%.
Peanuts have 30% more protein per one-ounce serving than cashews, hazelnuts and walnuts.
A serving of peanuts contains almost 30% of daily niacin needs. Niacin can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 70%.
Resveratrol, a bioactive found in peanuts, is believed to improve blood flow to the brain by as much as 30%, which helps reduce the risk of stroke.
Short-term memory, which lasts up to 30 seconds, can be improved by eating peanuts.
For the 30 million people in the U.S. who are living with Type 2 diabetes, peanuts provide a low-cost option to keep blood glucose under control.
The entire human gastrointestinal tract is about 30 feet long. Peanuts are a good source of fiber, which promotes satiety and proper digestion. Fiber also helps keep the intestines healthy.
During an average lifetime, the heart can beat more than 3 billion times. Peanuts contain arginine and other compounds, which help improve heart health and keep it beating.
Doctors recommend 30 minutes of daily exercise for everyone. Peanuts and peanut butter deliver plenty of energy to get it done, making them a favorite of fitness enthusiasts around the world.
For those who have 30 minutes (or less) for breakfast, studies show that including peanut butter can help create satiety even 8-12 hours later.
The 30/30 Peanut Challenge is easy to adopt since peanuts and peanut butter are extremely versatile and can be incorporated into breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack time. (In fact, they’re so versatile that George Washington Carver developed approximately 300 uses for peanuts, including peanut butter, flour, shaving cream, soap and skin lotion.)
For those looking to integrate peanuts into their daily meals, a peanut butter smoothie can start off the day. A peanut Cobb salad is great for lunch. A warm and hearty peanut soup or stew is ideal for a fall dinner. And, to power through the afternoon, a handful of peanuts do the trick.
“We’re encouraging everyone to join the challenge and share your experience on our social channels, #peanutchallenge,” says Sterling. “Of course, I’m going to participate so you’ll get to see how I make peanuts part of my day.”
As part of the 30/30 Peanut Challenge, The Peanut Institute is giving away 30 peanut-powered gift baskets throughout November.
For more information on peanut recipes and the peanut-powered gift basket giveaway, visit peanutinstitute.com.
REASONS WHY IT CAN BE DANGEROUS TO PLAY “DR. GOOGLE”
Internist Explains When Googling Symptoms Can Be Risky Business
The search engine Google is one of the most useful information tools to emerge in modern times. “Google” is a recognized verb. Googling, “how to cook gluten-free recipes” is harmless and informative, googling, “is my husband having a heart attack?’ can be deadly? Approximately eight out of 10 Americans search for medical information on the internet. When is it safe to use the internet to learn about health symptoms and treatment and when are you playing with your life? Hypochondria has now turned to Cyberchondria. We turned to Dr. Niket Sonpal, a New York City internist and gastroenterologist for some answers.
The Perils of Using Google For Health Questions/Symptoms
1)You don’t know how reliable a site is
You have to pay attention to things like, how old is the information on that site? Is it backed by real clinical studies from Universities or institutions like the Mayo Clinic? Does this site have an agenda? Have they put information up there as “clickbait” to lure you into buying a product they are selling such as a supplement, diet program, or book? If you google the information on other sites, so other sites corroborate what was said? Are the quotes coming from a physician who is board certified in his or her sub-specialty and can you find this physician online?
2)Googling Symptoms Can Cause Health Anxiety
Google just about any symptom and there’s bound to be results that suggest surgery or connect the symptom with a form of cancer. These extreme conclusions can cause serious anxiety, especially for people who are already afraid of health problems. This anxiety happens so frequently today, there’s a name for it—cyberchondria. According to the British news source DailyMail.com, millions suffer from it. Cyberchondriacs turn to the Web for comfort about their health issues instead of a health professional. They can become obsessed and the amount of time they spend checking the Web for information can interfere with their daily lives.
3)Stay Away from Health Message Boards
Don’t share your worries on message boards or ask for prescription drug recommendations. Dr. Sonpal has seen people ask questions such as: Has anyone tried Prozac for depression? They hear one person with a negative experience and then shy away from trying a drug that could potentially help them.
If you go to a random message board with your concerns, people are going to reply with horrific diagnoses, potentially lethal information, and their own experiences with prescription drugs that won’t be identical to yours. Physicians don’t moderate these message boards. If dangerous/erroneous advice is given, there is nobody to stop it from being published.
4)You can misdiagnosis yourself for better or worse
Perhaps you awake one morning to strange bumps all over your body. You put your symptoms into google and decide that based on several pages of descriptions, you have prickly heat and you treat it yourself according to what is published on google. What if the reality is that you have adult chickenpox and you leave it untreated? Conversely, the hypochondriac side can immerge, where you google symptoms and over-diagnose yourself because you have been having some chest pain that day. You think you are having a heart attack when the reality is, you were simply having upper gas pain.
5)Don’t use Google in the midst of a health crisis
If your infant suddenly stops breathing now is not the time to Google, “how to perform CPR.” This is when you call 911 and get medical help on the ground as soon as possible and take the direction that the operators give you on the line while medical help is on the way. It is a good idea to google how to perform CPR in a non- crisis situation from a reliable website such as https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/cpr-steps
6)Google does not know you and has never seen you
When you visit an internist or any other responsible medical doctor, you fill out an extensive form. This form includes, among other things, your age, height, weight, sex, gender race, medical history, medications you are taking, surgeries you have had, allergies, family health history, diseases you currently, suffer from,
mental health history etc. A doctor uses all of this to gather information in making his/her diagnosis and make sure that if he/she is dispensing medication that none of it interacts with what you are already taking. Google does not know any of this!
When it is OK to use Google as a tool for basic health questions?
Dr. Sonpal says, “the simpler the question, the better. If you are absolutely sure of what an ailment/injury is, and you have had it or seen it before, then visiting a reliable site for information can be useful.
Examples of Topics that are Safe to Google
What constitutes high blood pressure? (if you have it seek treatment)
How do you treat a mild sunburn?
How do you remove a splinter?
What is better to lower a fever, Tylenol or Advil
Should I put hot or cold on my joint if I fall?
What should I do if I’m dehydrated?
How should I treat a minor cut or abrasion?
What food can I eat if I have an upset stomach?
Should I starve myself if I have a cold and feed myself If I have a fever?
Eating for two: Future fathers should eat well for heart health of offspring
UNDER STRICT EMBARGO UNTIL 01.00 GMT 16 OCTOBER 2019
Not for publication or broadcast before this time
When trying to get pregnant, couples often change their lifestyles, going on crash diets or taking up stricter exercise regimens. New research, done on mice, suggests that men might be best off avoiding crash diets, as it may affect the heart health of their offspring.
While much research has shown the effects of maternal health on the offspring, very little is known about the impact of the father’s health. A study from researchers at the University of Nottingham published today in The Journal of Physiology shows that poor paternal diet, specifically low in protein, may impact the heart health of the offspring by changing their seminal fluid, which bathes sperm.
The researchers looked at the effect of low protein diets on both the sperm and seminal fluid of male mice. They studied the impact on offspring in four conditions: when the sperm was from a dad with a poor diet, when the seminal fluid was, when both were, and when neither was. They found that the heart health of offspring was negatively impacted when there was mismatch between the sperm and seminal fluid, meaning that one was from a poor dietary dad and the other from a dad with a normal diet, or vice versa.
Men on crash diets may be affected, as the quality of seminal fluid changes quickly, while sperm only changes after a few months, meaning that there might be a mismatch in the first few months of a diet, and this time may coincide with when they are trying to conceive.
These findings may have also implications for couples using assistive reproductive technologies such as IVF because IVF uses only the sperm, and this might result in a mismatch between the quality of sperm and seminal fluid.
Adam Watkins, senior author on the study said:
“It is important that we understand how and why paternal diet impacts on the offspring, so we can suggest preventative measures for couples who are trying to conceive, such as dietary recommendations.”
The Journal of Physiology publishes advances in physiology which increase our understanding of how our bodies function in health and disease. http://jp.physoc.org
The Physiological Society brings together over 4,000 scientists from over 60 countries. The Society promotes physiology with the public and parliament alike. It supports physiologists by organising world-class conferences and offering grants for research and also publishes the latest developments in the field in its three leading scientific journals, The Journal of Physiology, Experimental Physiology and Physiological Reports. www.physoc.org
The Physiological Society urges Government step change to meet its own Ageing Society target
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The UK Government is at risk of missing its target to increase healthy life expectancy by five years by 2035, according to a new report, Growing Older, Better, published by The Physiological Society on Tuesday 15 October.
Healthy life expectancy, which is the number of years lived in good health, has not increased as quickly as life expectancy in recent decades, which means people are living more years in poor health. The UK Government’s Industrial Strategy contains a target of “ensur[ing] that people can enjoy at least five extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035, while narrowing the gap between the experience of the richest and poorest”.
This new report, which is the result of a project involving an expert panel of researchers, funders and public health policy makers, outlines concerns that the Government is too focused on responding reactively to ageing, rather than being proactive in challenging the ageing process itself.
The step change required to meet the government’s target will require putting physiological research at the heart of the response. Physiological research into the processes underpinning ageing and age-related conditions as diverse as dementia and arthritis is key to providing answers to many of the questions that will need solving.
The report produced a number of key findings related to public health, including:
There is a gap between physiological insight and policy decision making.
Significant sections of the population do not engage with healthy ageing campaigns or recognise the impact of positive lifestyle changes to the quality of later life.
Those that are socioeconomically disadvantaged are less likely to be engaged in activities and lifestyles that promote healthy ageing.
The report includes a number of recommendations to keep people living healthier, for longer, including:
A greater focus across national and local government on preventative care to reduce the likelihood of health problems occurring.
Improved public health guidance by providing personalised, tailored advice based on physiological evidence.
Joined up healthcare to deliver an integrated approach to the care of older people before, during and after periods of poor health.
For example, only 10% of those aged over 65 in the UK meet the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendations for physical activity of 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week. This impacts not only muscle strength but has a significant impact on an older person’s immune system. Research from physiologists at the University of Birmingham and UCL demonstrated that study participants who maintain high levels of physical activity throughout middle and older age had higher levels of immune hormones important for maintaining immunity. This immunity is important for vaccine efficacy, warding off infections and viruses and lowering cancer risk.
Speaking at the report’s launch, Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock and Chair of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee noted:
“Having met a number of physiologists, including some of those who gave their time to support this report, I can attest that physiology is core to understanding the changes in how our bodies work as we age, which will be crucial in solving some of the major challenges of our generation. Understanding the causes of age-related diseases and frailty can result in lifestyle and medical interventions to allow people to keep contributing longer into their lifespan. This will have benefits for the individual by increasing their quality of life in older age as well as easing the burden on health and care systems.”
Professor Paul Greenhaff, University of Nottingham and Chair of the Growing Older, Better Expert Group, added:
“Ensuring that we understand the current landscape and have a clear picture about what needs to change to ensure physiology is at the heart of meeting the challenges of an ageing society is a crucial first step.”
The Physiological Society brings together over 4,000 scientists from over 60 countries. The Society promotes physiology with the public and parliament alike. It supports physiologists by organising world-class conferences and offering grants for research and also publishes the latest developments in the field in its three leading scientific journals, The Journal of Physiology, Experimental Physiology and Physiological Reports. www.physoc.org
Charney Lawyers Announce Proposed Ranitidine Class Action
VANCOUVER, Oct. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - A proposed national class action has been filed in Vancouver in response to yet another national recall of medication contaminated by a toxin. For more information, please visit: http://www.ranitidineclassaction.com/.
"In 2018 it was the Valsartan recall, now it's Ranitidine – the integrity of Canada's drug supply is now very much in question. How is NDMA getting into our drug supply? Why isn't the Government of Canada launching an inquiry?" said class counsel Theodore P. Charney.
The action is brought against the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture Ranitidine products for sale in Canada. It is alleged the manufacturers were negligent because the drugs include a toxic chemical, NDMA.
According to Health Canada, NDMA is a potential human carcinogen, which means that it could cause cancer with long-term exposure. NDMA has been detected in the Ranitidine products manufactured, distributed and sold by the defendants.
The class action is also being advanced against national drug store chains who sold the contaminated Ranitidine products over-the-counter. It is alleged the goods are not fit for consumption.
The defendant manufacturers in the proposed class action are the five pharmaceutical companies whose products appear on Health Canada's recall list: Sandoz Canada Inc., Apotex Inc., Pro Doc Limitée, Sanis Health Inc. and Sivem Pharmaceuticals ULC/Sivem Produits Pharmaceutiques ULC.
The defendant drug store chains are: London Drugs Limited, Shoppers Drug Mart Inc., Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd., Rexall/Pharma Plus Pharmacies Ltd., McKesson Canada Corporation/La Corporation McKesson Canada, McKesson Pharmacy Systems Canada ULC, Pharmasave Drugs Ltd., Loblaws Inc. and Westfair Drugs B.C. Ltd.
Class Counsel are Charney Lawyers, a leading class action firm led by senior counsel Theodore P. Charney and Rice Harbut Elliott a firm of trial lawyers who exclusively represent people who have been injured. The lawyers at Rice Harbut Elliott have a record of relentlessly holding defendants accountable, including in product liability cases.
SOURCE Charney Lawyers
Merida Merger Corp. I announces filing of registration statement in the United States and a preliminary prospectus in Canada
NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - Merida Merger Corp. I (the "Company") announced today that it has filed a registration statement in the United States for its initial public offering of 10,000,000 units for aggregate gross proceeds of US$100,000,000. The offering is being made concurrently in the United States under a registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and a preliminary prospectus filed in each of the provinces of Canada other than Québec. Each unit offered in the initial public offering has an offering price of US$10.00 and consists of one share of common stock and one-half of one warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at a price of US$11.50 per share. Each warrant will become exercisable on the later of twelve months from the closing of the offering and the completion of an initial business combination or qualifying transaction (a "Qualifying Transaction") and will expire at 5:00 pm New York City time five years from the consummation of the Qualifying Transaction, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. The Company has applied to list its units on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol "MCMJU." The Company has also applied to list its units on the NEO Exchange Inc. under the ticker symbol "MMK.UN."
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. is acting as sole book-running manager of the offering ("EarlyBird"). EarlyBirdhas engaged Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. as its Canadian agent to distribute the units in each of the provinces of Canada other than Québec.
The Company has granted EarlyBird a non-transferable over-allotment option (the "Over-Allotment Option") to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 units on the same terms and conditions, exercisable in whole or in part, by EarlyBird up to 45 days following the effective date of the registration statement. If the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full, the gross proceeds of the offering are expected to be US $115,000,000.
The Company is a blank check company organized for the purpose of effecting a Qualifying Transaction with one or more businesses or entities. The Company's efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region, although it intends to focus its search for target businesses in the cannabis industry.
The registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission has not yet become effective. The securities covered by the registration statement may not be sold, nor may offers to buy such securities be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or Canadian province in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of any such state or Canadian province. This proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the prospectus may be obtained, when available, from: EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., 366 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017, Attn: Syndicate Department, 212-661-0200.
A preliminary prospectus relating to the offering has also been filed with securities commissions or similar authorities in each of the provinces of Canada other than Québec. The preliminary prospectus is still subject to completion or amendment and thus has not yet become final for the purpose of a distribution of securities to the public. Any solicitation or sale would be unlawful in Canada prior to the time a receipt for the final prospectus or other authorization is obtained from the securities commission or similar authority in such jurisdiction. Copies of the preliminary prospectus will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Copies of the preliminary prospectus may also be obtained from Echelon Wealth Partners Inc., at ECM@echelonpartners.com. There will not be any sale or any acceptance of an offer to buy the securities in Canada until a receipt for the final prospectus has been issued.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Statements contained herein that are not based on historical or current fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "anticipates," "believes," "may," "continues," "estimates," "expects," and "will" and words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking information may include, but is not limited to, statements regarding the preliminary prospectus and registration statement being cleared by Canadian and US securities regulatory authorities. Wherever possible, words such as "plans", "expects", "projects", "assumes", "budget", "strategy", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "targets" and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative forms of any of these terms and similar expressions, have been used to identify forward-looking statements and information. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks identified in the Company's filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and in the United States at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE Merida Merger Corp. I
Breaking Barriers: helping Canadians on disability leave get back to work
Sun Life leads healthcare innovation with disability management toolkit
TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2019 /CNW/ - Nearly 60% of working Canadians have experienced a mental health condition at some point in their lifei, placing it among the leading causes of disability leaveii. Treatment options, wait times, cost and stigma can be some of the barriers people face when dealing with their mental health challenges. Sun Life is expanding its suite of digital tools and healthcare innovations to help Clients get back to work and live a healthier life.
"When you take a disability leave for mental health reasons, finding a specialist and getting proper treatment can feel overwhelming – we want to make this experience hassle-free," said Dave Jones, Senior Vice-President, Group Benefits, Sun Life. "Bringing these healthcare innovations to our Clients will improve their recovery experience and help them get the timely care they need."
Sun Life's Group Disability team is dedicated to helping Clients navigate the healthcare system and get the right treatment. The latest digital and healthcare innovations include:
Pharmacogenomics: Sun Life piloted pharmacogenomics in 2017 with positive results. Using saliva to determine how a person may respond to mental health and chronic pain medications, Sun Life is now partnering with LifeLabs Genetics and BiogeniQ to offer this personalized solution. Pharmacogenomics has the potential to help Clients and their physicians find an effective treatment faster.
"This test not only confirmed that I was on the right track, but also confirmed that the medications I had previously taken were definitely not right for me," said a Sun Life Group Benefits Client on disability leave about their experience using pharmacogenomics. "I would recommend this to others, in hopes of leading them towards finding the most suitable medications for their mental health."
Virtual Independent Medical Examination (vIME): Sun Life recently partnered with EQ Care to pilot vIME. This one-of-a-kind solution helps those on disability participate in an independent examination without leaving the comfort of their own home.
Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Clients on disability with mild to moderate anxiety or depression can take part in online modules, which focus on improving their mental well-being. With weekly virtual touchpoints with a mental health professional, individuals will conveniently receive care and support.
These tools are part of Sun Life's commitment to its Clients as it continues to lead the industry. Sun Life will embed these solutions into its case management processes to transform the disability experience and help Clients with their treatment and recovery.
Explore new mental health-related apps, articles, products and services to help you and your family live a healthier life with Lumino Health, Sun Life's online health network. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, calling 9-1-1 and seeking immediate help may be necessary.
About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2019, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1,025 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars
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i
Sun Life Barometer Survey 2019
ii
Towers Watson, 2009/2010 Staying@Work Report
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