André Picard @picardonhealth
@picardonhealth.bsky.social
André Picard is the health columnist at The Globe and Mail and the author of six bestselling books. I share stories and opinion pieces from a broad range of publications. Shares are not endorsements.
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I've been posting daily to Twitter for almost 15 years (and more recently on Bluesky) -- a curated feed of health news from around the world.
Now I'm done.
Going forward, I will only post stories I write myself, with few exceptions.
Thank you for having followed @picardonhealth.bsky.social
Now I'm done.
Going forward, I will only post stories I write myself, with few exceptions.
Thank you for having followed @picardonhealth.bsky.social
The ostrich saga was for the birds. The decision to cull the big birds exposed to avian influenza was a good one and the histrionics unhelpful, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com #H5N1
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com #H5N1
Opinion: The ostrich saga was for the birds
Government’s decision to cull 300 birds in B.C. was for the public good
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:01 AM
The ostrich saga was for the birds. The decision to cull the big birds exposed to avian influenza was a good one and the histrionics unhelpful, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com #H5N1
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com #H5N1
It's official: Canada has lost its measles elimination status because of an outbreak that has persisted for more than 12 months. Country can regain status only if on-going spread is of measles interrupted for more than a year. www.cbc.ca/news/health/... via @cbcnews.ca
November 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
It's official: Canada has lost its measles elimination status because of an outbreak that has persisted for more than 12 months. Country can regain status only if on-going spread is of measles interrupted for more than a year. www.cbc.ca/news/health/... via @cbcnews.ca
‘God is an anti-vaxxer’ -- Inside the conference celebrating RFK Jr.’s rise. Eliminating the childhood vaccine schedule is among the goals for activists who now claim Washington power, by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/... via @washingtonpost.com #antivax
‘God is an anti-vaxxer’: Inside the conference celebrating RFK Jr.’s rise
An anti-vaccine conference in Austin celebrated Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s rise to political power, highlighting his influence in Trump’s Washington.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
‘God is an anti-vaxxer’ -- Inside the conference celebrating RFK Jr.’s rise. Eliminating the childhood vaccine schedule is among the goals for activists who now claim Washington power, by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/... via @washingtonpost.com #antivax
Canada expected to lose long-standing measles-elimination status on Monday, by @kkirkup.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art... via @theglobeandmail.com
Canada expected to lose long-standing measles-elimination status
If the country loses its status, public-health researchers say the return of endemic measles would carry serious health consequences
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Canada expected to lose long-standing measles-elimination status on Monday, by @kkirkup.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art... via @theglobeandmail.com
Have Victoria’s millions made a difference on the infamous Pandora Avenue? The Globe returns to check, by Nancy MacDonald
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com #homelessness #ToxicDrugCrisis
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com #homelessness #ToxicDrugCrisis
Have Victoria’s millions made a difference on Pandora Avenue? The Globe returns to check
The B.C. capital’s efforts to address public safety are heavy on ambition – but it isn’t yet clear whether they’re making an impact
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Have Victoria’s millions made a difference on the infamous Pandora Avenue? The Globe returns to check, by Nancy MacDonald
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com #homelessness #ToxicDrugCrisis
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com #homelessness #ToxicDrugCrisis
They wanted to save lives. Now, Drug User Liberation Front founders have been convicted of drug trafficking. Case of compassion club will now proceed to a Charter challenge over drug users’ rights to life and liberty. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... via @cbcnews.ca #SaferSupply #HarmReduction
They wanted to save lives. They've now been convicted of drug trafficking | CBC News
A B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled Friday that Jeremy Kalicum and Eris Nyx had broken the law by selling the drugs to their members, and were each guilty of three counts of possession for the purpose of...
www.cbc.ca
November 8, 2025 at 4:51 PM
They wanted to save lives. Now, Drug User Liberation Front founders have been convicted of drug trafficking. Case of compassion club will now proceed to a Charter challenge over drug users’ rights to life and liberty. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... via @cbcnews.ca #SaferSupply #HarmReduction
#COVID19 pandemic took a toll on trust, public-health experts say. The pandemic was an opportunity to build solidarity but it had the opposite effect, by @andreawoo.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com
COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on trust, public-health experts say
Experts from around the world share lessons from the pandemic at a forum in Vancouver
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:07 PM
#COVID19 pandemic took a toll on trust, public-health experts say. The pandemic was an opportunity to build solidarity but it had the opposite effect, by @andreawoo.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com
The extermination of the wobble of ostriches on a B.C. farm is complete. Professional marksmen killed the birds overnight after the failure of farmers to secure a legal reprieve from the bird-flu cull, by @mikehager.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com #H5N1
November 7, 2025 at 8:01 PM
The extermination of the wobble of ostriches on a B.C. farm is complete. Professional marksmen killed the birds overnight after the failure of farmers to secure a legal reprieve from the bird-flu cull, by @mikehager.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com #H5N1
Reposted by André Picard @picardonhealth
Register for the 2025 Solutions for Healthy Cities Symposium on Nov. 25, featuring Globe and Mail health columnist @picardonhealth.bsky.social: maphealth.ca/shc2025/
Join us in Toronto on Nov 25 for the 2025 Solutions for Healthy Cities Symposium!🎉
Theme: The Science and Practice of System Change.
Keynote: @picardonhealth.bsky.social
Learn more and register now: maphealth.ca/symposium
Theme: The Science and Practice of System Change.
Keynote: @picardonhealth.bsky.social
Learn more and register now: maphealth.ca/symposium
November 5, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Register for the 2025 Solutions for Healthy Cities Symposium on Nov. 25, featuring Globe and Mail health columnist @picardonhealth.bsky.social: maphealth.ca/shc2025/
Bird flu related cull of B.C. ostriches moves ahead after Supreme Court declines to hear appeal. Farmers and dozens of their supporters at the site reacted to the ruling with both sadness and rage, by @mikehager.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com #H5N1
Cull of B.C. ostriches moves ahead after Supreme Court declines to hear farmers’ appeal
Canada’s food regulator is now able to restart a cull it began preparing for in September while the case was before the court
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Bird flu related cull of B.C. ostriches moves ahead after Supreme Court declines to hear appeal. Farmers and dozens of their supporters at the site reacted to the ruling with both sadness and rage, by @mikehager.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com #H5N1
Culling of B.C. ostriches to proceed after Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear appeal of cull order
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
www.thestar.com/news/canada/... via @thestar.com #H5N1
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
www.thestar.com/news/canada/... via @thestar.com #H5N1
CP NewsAlert: Supreme Court of Canada won’t hear appeal of ostrich cull order
The Supreme Court of Canada stayed the cull in September while it considered whether to hear the case.
www.thestar.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Culling of B.C. ostriches to proceed after Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear appeal of cull order
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
www.thestar.com/news/canada/... via @thestar.com #H5N1
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
www.thestar.com/news/canada/... via @thestar.com #H5N1
Reposted by André Picard @picardonhealth
An update on my column: Parliamentary committee drops most contentious parts of its demand for data on research funding. It now wants aggregated, not disaggregated data. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
November 6, 2025 at 2:29 AM
An update on my column: Parliamentary committee drops most contentious parts of its demand for data on research funding. It now wants aggregated, not disaggregated data. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Princess Margaret, Canada's largest cancer centre, to enroll 100,000 cancer patients genomic testing trial to see if major hereditary health risks lurk in their DNA, by @kellygrant1.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com @pmresearch-uhn.bsky.social #genomics
Cancer patients to be offered genomic testing as part of a joint study with U.S. hospitals
Screening in partnership with Helix, Inc. could offer Princess Margaret Cancer Centre patients insights into hereditary health risks
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Princess Margaret, Canada's largest cancer centre, to enroll 100,000 cancer patients genomic testing trial to see if major hereditary health risks lurk in their DNA, by @kellygrant1.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com @pmresearch-uhn.bsky.social #genomics
An update on my column: Parliamentary committee drops most contentious parts of its demand for data on research funding. It now wants aggregated, not disaggregated data. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
November 6, 2025 at 2:29 AM
An update on my column: Parliamentary committee drops most contentious parts of its demand for data on research funding. It now wants aggregated, not disaggregated data. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by André Picard @picardonhealth
The 🇨🇦 Standing Committee on Science and Research passed a modified resolution this afternoon that the requested ricouncil applicant and reviewer data can be aggregated and anonymized. Thanks to the many researchers who signed letters pointing out legitimate data privacy concerns. 👏👏
November 6, 2025 at 12:22 AM
The 🇨🇦 Standing Committee on Science and Research passed a modified resolution this afternoon that the requested ricouncil applicant and reviewer data can be aggregated and anonymized. Thanks to the many researchers who signed letters pointing out legitimate data privacy concerns. 👏👏
Quebec doctors threaten to resign or leave the province after new law alters their pay, by Eric Andrew-Gee www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com
Quebec doctors threaten to resign or leave the province after new law alters their pay
Bill 2 would link doctors’ compensation more closely to the number of patients they enroll, which physicians say amounts to a pay cut
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Quebec doctors threaten to resign or leave the province after new law alters their pay, by Eric Andrew-Gee www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com
Reposted by André Picard @picardonhealth
a gross parliamentary overreach — article by @picardonhealth.bsky.social in the globe and mail; #academicsky #neuroskyence #psychscisky www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/91587b9...
How much are MPs entitled to know about research grants? Not as much as they think
A parliamentary committee is asking for academics’ private information on a strange anti-DEI crusade
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:30 AM
a gross parliamentary overreach — article by @picardonhealth.bsky.social in the globe and mail; #academicsky #neuroskyence #psychscisky www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/91587b9...
L’adoption de la loi 2 est le catalyseur de l’implosion du système de santé québécois. Il n’est pas exagéré de dire que cette loi représente la menace la plus grave pour les soins de santé publics que nous ayons vue de notre vivant: Dr. David Mulder www.lapresse.ca/dialogue/opi... via @lapresse.ca
Loi 2 | Nos hôpitaux et nos communautés en danger
Pour le Dr David Mulder, chirurgien thoracique et traumatologue, qui a longtemps été le médecin du Canadien de Montréal, le contrôle étatique de la pratique médicale instauré par la loi 2 menace non s...
www.lapresse.ca
November 5, 2025 at 8:39 PM
L’adoption de la loi 2 est le catalyseur de l’implosion du système de santé québécois. Il n’est pas exagéré de dire que cette loi représente la menace la plus grave pour les soins de santé publics que nous ayons vue de notre vivant: Dr. David Mulder www.lapresse.ca/dialogue/opi... via @lapresse.ca
Reposted by André Picard @picardonhealth
An important contribution by @picardonhealth.bsky.social. As Budget 2025, university- and college-based is critical to Canadian growth. Why are parliamentarians throwing a stick in the wheel by sharing what was promised to be confidential information and increasing the burden on peer reviewers.
How much are MPs entitled to know about research grants? Not as much as they think. A parliamentary committee is asking for researchers' personal information in what seems like an anti-DEI crusade, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: How much are MPs entitled to know about research grants? Not as much as they think
A parliamentary committee is asking for academics’ private information on a strange anti-DEI crusade
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:07 PM
An important contribution by @picardonhealth.bsky.social. As Budget 2025, university- and college-based is critical to Canadian growth. Why are parliamentarians throwing a stick in the wheel by sharing what was promised to be confidential information and increasing the burden on peer reviewers.
How Alberta Became the Epicentre of Canada’s Measles Outbreak. A virus eradicated from Canada a generation ago just took the life of a newborn, by @monicakidd.bsky.social thewalrus.ca/how-alberta-... via @thewalrus.ca
How Alberta Became the Epicentre of Canada’s Measles Outbreak | The Walrus
A virus eradicated from Canada a generation ago just took the life of a newborn
thewalrus.ca
November 5, 2025 at 3:45 PM
How Alberta Became the Epicentre of Canada’s Measles Outbreak. A virus eradicated from Canada a generation ago just took the life of a newborn, by @monicakidd.bsky.social thewalrus.ca/how-alberta-... via @thewalrus.ca
Reposted by André Picard @picardonhealth
I only wish @picardonhealth.bsky.social mentioned:
1) Researchers filled this information believing it was private & for statistical purposes,
2) DEI info of apps was not shared with review committee (though app’s names are listed )
B/c some of the comments are pretty uninformed.
1) Researchers filled this information believing it was private & for statistical purposes,
2) DEI info of apps was not shared with review committee (though app’s names are listed )
B/c some of the comments are pretty uninformed.
a gross parliamentary overreach — article by @picardonhealth.bsky.social in the globe and mail; #academicsky #neuroskyence #psychscisky www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/91587b9...
How much are MPs entitled to know about research grants? Not as much as they think
A parliamentary committee is asking for academics’ private information on a strange anti-DEI crusade
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:13 AM
I only wish @picardonhealth.bsky.social mentioned:
1) Researchers filled this information believing it was private & for statistical purposes,
2) DEI info of apps was not shared with review committee (though app’s names are listed )
B/c some of the comments are pretty uninformed.
1) Researchers filled this information believing it was private & for statistical purposes,
2) DEI info of apps was not shared with review committee (though app’s names are listed )
B/c some of the comments are pretty uninformed.
What does a new study on #COVID19 tell us about the risks to children after infection? Q+A w/ Dr. Angela Wood by @alannasmith.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/life/wellnes... via @theglobeandmail.com #LongCOVID
Q&A: What does a new study on COVID-19 tell us about the risks to children after infection?
Angela Wood, a professor of biostatistics at the University of Cambridge, took The Globe and Mail through the findings
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:12 AM
What does a new study on #COVID19 tell us about the risks to children after infection? Q+A w/ Dr. Angela Wood by @alannasmith.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/life/wellnes... via @theglobeandmail.com #LongCOVID
Reposted by André Picard @picardonhealth
On Oct 1 the Standing Committee on Science and Research passed an egregious motion calling for the disclosure of disaggregated data for research applications to federal granting council from 2020-2025. On Oct 20 they amended the timeframe to 2000-2025.
@picardonhealth.bsky.social
@picardonhealth.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 4:49 PM
On Oct 1 the Standing Committee on Science and Research passed an egregious motion calling for the disclosure of disaggregated data for research applications to federal granting council from 2020-2025. On Oct 20 they amended the timeframe to 2000-2025.
@picardonhealth.bsky.social
@picardonhealth.bsky.social
Reposted by André Picard @picardonhealth
There is no evidence to support that federal research funding is being unfairly allocated to "woke" or "leftist" research.
If anything, as @pinglamjoeip.bsky.social and I found, research on structural inequality is underfunded.
I will link our original piece below.
If anything, as @pinglamjoeip.bsky.social and I found, research on structural inequality is underfunded.
I will link our original piece below.
November 4, 2025 at 2:45 PM
There is no evidence to support that federal research funding is being unfairly allocated to "woke" or "leftist" research.
If anything, as @pinglamjoeip.bsky.social and I found, research on structural inequality is underfunded.
I will link our original piece below.
If anything, as @pinglamjoeip.bsky.social and I found, research on structural inequality is underfunded.
I will link our original piece below.
Reposted by André Picard @picardonhealth
Doctors are calling a new Quebec law draconian and anti-democratic and threatening to leave the province in droves. What is Bill 2 and why is it so controversial? Q+A w/ Dr. Lynn Couture, @picardonhealth.bsky.social by Piya Chattopadhyay on The Current
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-... via @cbcnews.ca
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-... via @cbcnews.ca
November 3, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Doctors are calling a new Quebec law draconian and anti-democratic and threatening to leave the province in droves. What is Bill 2 and why is it so controversial? Q+A w/ Dr. Lynn Couture, @picardonhealth.bsky.social by Piya Chattopadhyay on The Current
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-... via @cbcnews.ca
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-... via @cbcnews.ca