Yellowknife (Feb 25/04) - Both the territorial and federal governments must take responsibility for the state of health care in the NWT, said Dr. Sunil Patel, Canadian Medical Association president.

Dr. Nicolas Ivanans, left, president of the NWT Medical Association and Dr. Sunil Patel, president of the Canadian Medical Association presented a certificate to the City of Yellowknife Feb. 19., for implementing its anti-smoking bylaw. - Colleen Moore/NNSL photo

Patel was in Yellowknife last week taking part in the annual general meeting of the NWT Medical Association.

One hot topic that was on the minds of all representatives was the scourge of tobacco use in the territory, and Patel said banning tobacco in all public places in Canada is an idea they fully support.

"Physicians know too well the devastating impact tobacco use has on health," he said. "The CMA has put its conference money where its mouth is on this issue by passing a resolution to not hold annual meetings in cities without bans."

Because Yellowknife has already implemented a bylaw against smoking in public places, Patel said it will rewarding the city with a certificate that recognizes the effort.

But Patel said this kind of initiative has to happen all over the territory, as well as throughout the country.

"We want to see all of Canada ban the use of tobacco in all public places," said Patel. "That can be a major preventable form of disease and death."

Dr. Nicolas Ivanans, president of the NWTMA, said there are talks of emphasizing the smoking status of an individual on their health charts because it is such a hazardous addiction.

Treating the smoking status as a vital sign, like blood pressure, could make people realize how serious it is.

"When you consider that quitting smoking is viewed to be as difficult as quitting heroin...I don't think we treat it with the same gravity," he said.

As for other problems in the North, like recruiting and retaining health care workers, Ivanans said they are currently developing a Web site that could facilitate better communication across the territory.

"A lot of the time we aren't talking to each other," he said.

"Hopefully the Web site can act as a central area of information."

The site is expected to be up and running in three months.