Ontario is significantly expanding the number and range of medical procedures performed in privately run for-profit clinics, the government announced Monday, as the province deals with major surgical backlog made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Doug Ford says move is necessary to improve surgery wait times
The news conference comes after a government source said the province will ramp up the number of surgeries done in privately run for-profit clinics.
Ontario is significantly expanding the number and range of medical procedures performed in privately run for-profit clinics, the government announced Monday, as the province deals with major surgical backlog made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The move was announced by Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones at a news conference.
You can watch live in the player above. There are connectivity issues at the venue, so you may experience some trouble watching the livestream.
The government says the change would lead to thousands more surgeries and diagnostic procedures performed each year, an immediate way to reduce wait times for such operations as cataract removals.
Various health-care professionals told CBC Toronto last week they are concerned that the plan would drain resources from publicly funded hospitals and benefit the owners of private-sector clinics without improving patient care.
The agency that regulates doctors in the province, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, said it was not informed of the government’s plans to implement the changes.
More to come.
With files from Mike Crawley
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