B.C. United MLA Renee Merrifield and candidate Michael Humer were not buying what health minister Adrian Dix was selling during a two-day visit to Kelowna on June 27-28.
On June 27, Dix provided an update on the NDPB次元官网网址檚 10-Year Cancer Care Plan. The minister said B.C. has some of the lowest cancer rates and best cancer outcomes in the country. He also highlighted a program that began a year ago which sends cancer patients to Bellingham, Wash. for treatment. ItB次元官网网址檚 expected to benefit approximately 4,800 people over two years.
A media release from Merrifield stated that a report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that of the 2,442 patients referred since May 2023, only 599 completed their treatments. A media story last November said 249 patients preferred to stay in Canada, and 164 declined treatment in the U.S.
Humer, a retired thoracic surgeon and candidate for Kelowna-Centre, attended DixB次元官网网址檚 June 27 news conference at the BC Cancer Clinic. He said it makes no sense to him that B.C. is sending cancer patients to the U.S. for care.
B次元官网网址淭he stress on those patients and their families to have to go into the United States, and what about the stress on healthcare providers who arenB次元官网网址檛 able to give their care.B次元官网网址�
Humer surmised that American healthcare workers are likely paid more to provide treatment after hours.
B次元官网网址淲hy are we not doing that same thing here to allow people to look after their patients? As a surgeon, we would have never sent patients to the States. We knew how to get the work done.B次元官网网址�
On June 26, B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon released the B次元官网网址楿nited to Fix Healthcare Patient Bill of Rights.B次元官网网址�
Among other promises, it provides for publicly funded healthcare at private facilities.
Dix was asked about the plan at last Thursday's news conference. He pointed out that under the past Liberal government, there were more private MRI machines available than public facilities.
B次元官网网址淚t meant there was a two-tiered system, an organized system of queue jumping for money. So heB次元官网网址檚 saying, that will come back. I donB次元官网网址檛 agree with that.B次元官网网址�
Humer pointed out that public services offered in private facilities have already been happening in B.C. Dix acknowledged the provinceB次元官网网址檚 purchase of a private facility in Prince George in April 2023.
B次元官网网址淭he reason is it required investment. We didnB次元官网网址檛 go out and say we want to buy you, they said we think thereB次元官网网址檚 an opportunity for the Northern Health Authority to take over that surgical centre.B次元官网网址�
Dix said the province has also taken over private MRI facilities so services can be delivered to British Columbians.
BC UnitedB次元官网网址檚 healthcare platform includes:
- Using existing private providers in B.C., at no cost to patients, to deliver publicly funded care.
- Patients being able to easily access their health records on mobile devices
- Specific health care performance targets
