(May 30, 2017)<\/p>\n
By: Sara Cain,\u00a0<\/span>900CHML<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A giant teddy bear has made its first stop of 20, in Hamilton with the message: \u201cwe can\u2019t bear to lose Medicare.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s part of a tour across Ontario\u00a0by the Ontario Health Coalition to raise awareness about what it calls the threat of privatization by for-profit clinics.<\/p>\n Executive Director, Natalie Mehra, says many of the clinics that have recently popped up across the country are charging\u00a0thousands in user fees for medically-needed procedures that should be covered by tax dollars.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re starting to charge patients, mainly seniors, hundreds or even thousands of dollars in user fees for cataract surgeries, for MRIs or other diagnostic tests\u201d said Mehra.<\/p>\n If the Medicare model meets its demise, Mehra fears that an equitable approach to care will go with it.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople who can afford thousands or tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for surgeries and hospital care will get it, but all the resources will be pulled out of our local hospitals to serve the wealthy,\u201d Mehra said.<\/p>\n Previous court challenges in provinces like Quebec, have argued that private clinics could help cut wait times.<\/p>\n Mehra contends it\u2019s only a problem because of bed cuts\u00a0and that more time should be spent mending the current system.<\/p>\n In the coming weeks, the Ontario coalition will not only be speaking about Medicare, it will also be\u00a0raising funds to keep it in tact.<\/p>\n In B.C. the matter is before the Supreme Court and the coalition there is looking for support to intervene.<\/p>\n