------  Need for private medicine

 

       Justice Steeves, on September 10, 2020, dismissed the Charter challenge by Vancouver surgeon Dr. Brian Day of the British Columbia Medicare Protection Act.  He upheld three provisions of the MPA:  bans on extra-billing, selling insurance for “medically necessary care,” and permitting doctors to practice simultaneously in the public and private systems.

       Of British Columbia's elective operations, (due to the pandemic) about 30,000 have been cancelled or postponed. Working through the backlog may take two years. Even prior to COVID-19, 308 BC Fraser Health Region patients died annually while on wait lists, 18 per day.

        There used to be a “safety valve” of travel outside Canada for those unwilling to wait. In 2017, about 217,000 Canadians sought healthcare externally, and spent $690 million. 

       An option remains. The Canada Health Act allows private care -- in a different province. Thus, Ottawa patients cross the river for an MRI scan in 24-48 hours at private clinics in Gatineau.  A private facility near Montreal performs total knee or hip replacements for $22,000, with a 5-6 weeks wait time.

       Legalizing some private care would not necessarily deplete the public system of health professionals -- many already leave for the United States. Similarly, nearly 4,300 nurses work in the US; half because they could not find full-time work in Canada*.  

      Because of COVID-19 (travel restrictions), Canadians cannot easily seek surgical care or diagnostic investigations in other countries. Should there not be a private option available for treatment in their home province?

       This would shorten wait times, and provide employment in Canada for many MDs and nurses who might otherwise leave for other countries.

Charles S. Shaver, MD

Ottawa 

(*NOTE:  CISSSO cannot today find nurses to fill full-time positions across its district.)