(November 2, 2023)<\/p>\n
By: Samantha Lawson<\/p>\n
An independent group says its new report highlights negative impacts on the Ford government\u2019s privatization of surgeries and diagnostic procedures, saying the government\u2019s model is unlikely to increase capacity and reduce wait times.<\/p>\n
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says its report reveals the government has dramatically increased funding to for-profit healthcare while public hospitals are facing dollar cuts.<\/p>\n
The report says for-profit delivery would make public sector staffing shortages worse and could end up costing more for patients.<\/p>\n
And the Ontario Health Coalition says under the Canada Health Act patients can\u2019t be charged for medically needed hospital or physician services like cataract surgeries. But it found some clinics in Ontario are trying to charge patients for cataract surgery at higher costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the public health system, hospitals are billed around $500 per cataract. It\u2019s a seven minute surgery, per cataract surgery, so $500 compared to $2700 for the surgeries is a ludicrous price,\u201d Natalie Mehra from the Ontario Health Coalition said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are multiple operating rooms both at HHS and Joe Brant that are not active at all, they are being used as storage rooms, because they don\u2019t have the funding and the staff to run them.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a response, the Ministry of Health says their plan is working and they\u2019ll continue to reduce wait times and connect patients to the care they need.<\/p>\n