From how income affects health to the disproportionate impact of COVID on vulnerable communities, Unity Health Toronto experts offered insights this week into our rapidly changing world. Here are our top media hits for the week of March 19-25.

Take this cash and call me in the morning – Can financial prescriptions cure America’s health problems?
The Boston Globe on March 24, 2022
Interview with Dr. Gary Bloch

Dr. Gary Bloch, family physician at St. Michael’s Hospital, speaks to The Boston Globe about helping patients by prescribing income.

Trying to solve a Covid mystery: Africa’s low death rates
The New York Times on March 23, 2022
Interview with Dr. Prabhat Jha

Africa has had relatively low COVID-19 death rates throughout the pandemic. Dr. Prabhat Jha, director at the Centre for Global Health Research, speaks to The New York Times about the importance of understanding why.

‘Time for change’: Toronto launching service to respond to mental health crisis calls
The Canadian Press on March 24, 2022
Interview with Dr. Andrew Pinto

Toronto is launching a new service that will see a team consisting of two people, such as a harm-reduction worker and a nurse, respond to mental health 911 calls. Dr. Andrew Pinto, a family physician at St. Michael’s Hospital, says a community-led approach to helping people in mental health crises is “long overdue” and has the potential to save lives.

COVID-19 pandemic still hitting low income areas hardest, Ontario’s science table says
CBC Toronto on March 20, 2022
Interview with Dr. Danyaal Raza

New data from Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table confirms COVID-19 disproportionately impacts low income and racialized communities in Ontario. Dr. Danyaal Raza, family physician at St. Michael’s Hospital, tells CBC News what policy tools can help protect these groups.

Three fentanyl overdoses within one hour in Peel Region
CBC Toronto (@ 6:20) on March 22, 2022
Interview with Karen McDonald

Of the thousands of opioid samples tested by Toronto’s Drug Checking Service, staff have found an increasingly toxic supply, Karen McDonald, operations manager with Toronto’s Drug Checking Service, tells CBC Toronto.