Health fight aheadTories fret 'Americanization' with paid MRIs
By TOM BRODBECK
Health Minister Tim Sale has not shut the door on Manitobans' right to buy MRI scans from a private clinic in Winnipeg.
But the Opposition Tories have, calling the new service proposed by the Maples Surgical Centre the "Americanization" of health care.
Go figure.
The privately owned clinic is planning to sell the diagnostic scans to patients directly for $695.
They're promising a 48-hour turnaround on the service, a far cry from the three to four months patients in Winnipeg have to wait for an elective MRI at a government-run hospital.
Charging patients directly for an MRI at a private clinic is legal under the federal Canada Health Act because it's performed outside a hospital.
But provinces have the power to shut the practice down through provincial legislation if they wish. They would have to prosecute the clinic to do it, though.
When asked about the Maples' proposal yesterday, Sale was noncommittal.
"Well let's wait and see until their machine gets licensed," said Sale. "As far as we know it hasn't been licensed and no approvals have been given for what it can do."
So he hasn't said no and he hasn't said yes.
Private clinics in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia already sell MRI scans, CT scans and ultrasounds directly to patients.
Manitoba would be the fifth province added to the list.
It would give patients the choice to buy an MRI directly from the clinic by paying out of pocket for the cost.
I asked Tory Opposition health critic Heather Stefanson what her party's position is on the private MRIs. She said the Tories are against allowing people to buy an MRI scan with their own money.
"At this point in time, we would not support that," said Stefanson. "I think it's something that we are going to have to discuss further as a party."
She also slammed the Doer government for letting the health-care system get to this point.
Tired old buzz words
"Ironically what's happening here is that the NDP is forcing the Americanization of our system," said Stefanson. "If the NDP properly managed the system and utilized public-private partnerships to help deliver services, I don't think we'd be in the situation we're in right now."
Funny, I would have thought a Conservative party would have been more in favour of patient choice. I expect NDP politicians to trot out tired old buzz words like the "Americanization" of health care. But I didn't expect it from the Tories.
Maybe it's just part of the identity crisis they're going through.
The issue of whether patients should be allowed to pay directly for diagnostic scans will eventually be before government.
Premier Gary Doer and his cabinet will have to decide at some point whether they're going to accept this or not.
When patients are forced to wait 12 to 16 weeks for an MRI in the government monopoly system, isn't it time to break up that monopoly?
Government can, and should, continue to cover MRIs for whoever needs them under the province's health insurance system.
But they should also allow people to use their own money to buy the scans directly if they choose.
You would think in a free and democratic society that government wouldn't deprive people of that choice.
This one could be a big battle, folks.
Reach Tom at 632-2742 or by e-mail at tbrodbeck@wpgsun.com.
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