Why Canadian doctors should be on the front lines of the anti-poverty struggle

Over three million Canadians struggle to make ends meet. Research shows that socioeconomic status and health are intertwined; this is why many doctors now consider social determinants of health when treating patients. Some doctors are even becoming advocates for their patients by using their influence to push for policy change. Four health care experts explain why poverty should be treated as an urgent medical issue in Canada, not just a moral one. John Millar is a Clinical Professor at the School for Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia where he is involved in teaching and research in public health leadership, health policy and international health. He is an expert advisor with EvidenceNetwork.ca. Ryan Meili is an expert advisor with EvidenceNetwork.ca, a practicing family physician in Saskatoon, and founder of Upstream: Institute for A Healthy Society. Gary Bloch is a family physician with St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, a founding member of Health Providers Against Poverty, and an expert advisor with EvidenceNetwork.ca. Paula Goering at the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction is an expert advisor with EvidenceNetwork.ca, an investigator with the At Home/Chez Soi study and a researcher at the University of Toronto. Interview by Mélanie Meloche-Holubowski, journalist intern at EvidenceNetwork.ca, and journalist with Radio-Canada. The Evidence Network of Canadian Health Policy, commonly known as EvidenceNetwork.ca, is a Canadian healthcare resource designed with the needs of journalists in mind. The project links journalists with health policy experts to provide access to credible, evidence-based information. We also create original OpEds, articles, podcasts, infographics, posters and videos on health policy topics for publication in the mainstream media.