CMA calls for national solution to medical tourism
The federal government should step in to help Canadians denied costly medical treatments outside the country, the head of the Canadian Medical Association says.
Ontario has several high-profile cases of people fighting to have the province pay for procedures such as joint replacements or cutting edge cancer treatments that they couldn't get at home.
Ontario is now reviewing its position on out-of-country treatments after receiving pressure from the provincial ombudsman.
It can be confusing for people to navigate provincial bureaucracies, said Dr. Colin McMillan, president of the Canadian Medical Association.
"One of the things we have suggested is a special access fund that the federal government might consider setting up, a fund of last resort if you like," said McMillan.
The fund would be an option for people in any province or territory who for whatever reason are unable to get care in a timely basis and have to turn to another province or country, he said.
The federal government should step in to help Canadians denied costly medical treatments outside the country, the head of the Canadian Medical Association says.
Ontario has several high-profile cases of people fighting to have the province pay for procedures such as joint replacements or cutting edge cancer treatments that they couldn't get at home.
Ontario is now reviewing its position on out-of-country treatments after receiving pressure from the provincial ombudsman.
It can be confusing for people to navigate provincial bureaucracies, said Dr. Colin McMillan, president of the Canadian Medical Association.
"One of the things we have suggested is a special access fund that the federal government might consider setting up, a fund of last resort if you like," said McMillan.
The fund would be an option for people in any province or territory who for whatever reason are unable to get care in a timely basis and have to turn to another province or country, he said.
No reimbursement for $477,000 bill
Adolfo Flora resorted to going overseas for treatment after he was denied a liver transplant in Ontario because of the limited number of organs available and his cancer tumours had grown too large. At Christmas time in 1999, specialists told Flora he had six months to live.
Feeling healthy at age 50, the Toronto high school teacher went to England where doctors performed an experimental procedure that cost Flora more than $470,000.
Flora said he no longer lives under a cancer death sentence, but his mother sold her home and he borrowed money from a friend to pay for the treatment.
"To characterize the Ontario government's stance, I think it's very uncaring," said Flora.
He feels the provincial government has a responsibility to help Ontarians who have trusted the system to provide for their needs.
Flora said he'll appeal his case in court, arguing it's not right that he was forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for treatment to save his life.
Flora now aims to see his 13-year-old son grow up and graduate from university.
Ontario has several high-profile cases of people fighting to have the province pay for procedures such as joint replacements or cutting edge cancer treatments that they couldn't get at home.
Ontario is now reviewing its position on out-of-country treatments after receiving pressure from the provincial ombudsman.
It can be confusing for people to navigate provincial bureaucracies, said Dr. Colin McMillan, president of the Canadian Medical Association.
"One of the things we have suggested is a special access fund that the federal government might consider setting up, a fund of last resort if you like," said McMillan.
The fund would be an option for people in any province or territory who for whatever reason are unable to get care in a timely basis and have to turn to another province or country, he said.
The federal government should step in to help Canadians denied costly medical treatments outside the country, the head of the Canadian Medical Association says.
Ontario has several high-profile cases of people fighting to have the province pay for procedures such as joint replacements or cutting edge cancer treatments that they couldn't get at home.
Ontario is now reviewing its position on out-of-country treatments after receiving pressure from the provincial ombudsman.
It can be confusing for people to navigate provincial bureaucracies, said Dr. Colin McMillan, president of the Canadian Medical Association.
"One of the things we have suggested is a special access fund that the federal government might consider setting up, a fund of last resort if you like," said McMillan.
The fund would be an option for people in any province or territory who for whatever reason are unable to get care in a timely basis and have to turn to another province or country, he said.
No reimbursement for $477,000 bill
Adolfo Flora resorted to going overseas for treatment after he was denied a liver transplant in Ontario because of the limited number of organs available and his cancer tumours had grown too large. At Christmas time in 1999, specialists told Flora he had six months to live.
Feeling healthy at age 50, the Toronto high school teacher went to England where doctors performed an experimental procedure that cost Flora more than $470,000.
Flora said he no longer lives under a cancer death sentence, but his mother sold her home and he borrowed money from a friend to pay for the treatment.
"To characterize the Ontario government's stance, I think it's very uncaring," said Flora.
He feels the provincial government has a responsibility to help Ontarians who have trusted the system to provide for their needs.
Flora said he'll appeal his case in court, arguing it's not right that he was forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for treatment to save his life.
Flora now aims to see his 13-year-old son grow up and graduate from university.
Labels: Medical Tourism
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