Medical organizations, patients raise concerns about health not taking centre stage in federal election campaign

Patients, medical organizations and physicians are speaking out to say health care should not take a backseat in the federal election campaign, a sentiment that grew louder after the issue was not named as a theme for this week’s leaders’ debates.The French and English debates, set for Wednesday and Thursday, will cover topics that include affordability, the trade war and climate, according to a statement from CBC/Radio-Canada released on Monday.The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, one of several organizations criticizing the decision not to set health as a debate theme, pointed to the nation-wide shortages of nurses and primary care providers as key issues requiring solutions.