Ontario expanding number and range of surgeries offered at for-profit clinics | 24CA News

Ontario is considerably increasing the quantity and vary of medical procedures carried out in privately run for-profit clinics because the province offers with a surgical backlog made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The transfer was introduced by Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones at a news convention Monday.

The change will probably be launched over three phases. The first will see surgical and diagnostic clinics in Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo and Windsor carry out an extra 14,000 cataract operations annually, representing about 25 per cent of the province’s present backlog for the process.

Next, extra non-public clinics will be capable to supply MRI and CT imaging, in addition to colonoscopies and endoscopies.

“These procedures will be non-urgent, low-risk and minimally invasive and, in addition to shortening wait times, will allow hospitals to focus their efforts and resources on more complex and high-risk surgeries,” the province mentioned in a news launch.

The authorities intends that by 2024, the third section will see hip and knee replacements carried out at unbiased clinics.

Ford and Jones mentioned a number of occasions the care will probably be lined by OHIP, and Ford confused sufferers will “never use their credit cards” on the clinics. He did not instantly reply a reporter’s query about whether or not or not clinics could be allowed to upsell sufferers on related parts of care. 

While the adjustments are wanted due to the province’s lengthy surgical procedure wait lists, Ford mentioned they are going to be saved in place completely even after the backlog is cleared.

Various health-care professionals advised CBC Toronto final week they’re involved that the plan would drain assets from publicly funded hospitals and profit the house owners of private-sector clinics with out enhancing affected person care.

Jones mentioned the adjustments is not going to have an effect on staffing ranges at hospitals within the province, whereas Ford lamented “endless debates” about who ought to ship well being care.

The company that regulates docs within the province, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, mentioned it was not knowledgeable of the federal government’s plans to implement the adjustments.

More to return.