REGINA – There’s been some strong debate over a new law that would allow people to pay out of pocket for private MRI scans.
Critics condemn the move and fear it will create a class-divide in Saskatchewan’s health care system, but with 5,000 people waiting for the diagnostic testing others said it will help alleviate pressure.
There are private MRI clinics already operating in Regina, but only available through contract and not to the public.
Christine Reddy is the CEO at Open Skies MRI in Regina and said just because a patient can’t access the clinic, doesn’t mean the appetite isn’t there.
“People phone us up and they see if they’re able to pay for it, but of course they’re not,” she added.
In other provinces, MRI’s cost upwards of $800, but the law would require a private clinic in Saskatchewan to provide another scan to someone off the public wait list free of charge.
It would be up to the clinic to determine the cost, which remains unclear.
Get daily National news
“I have absolutely no idea at this time how a fee structure would be set up and I can’t speculate,” said Reddy.
Saskatchewan would become the fifth province to allow people to pay out of pocket for private MRI’s, but the NDP points out that wait times are worse in some provinces like Alberta where the practice has already been introduced.
“We know wait times there are actually 52 days typically, for patients,” said NDP leader, Cam Broten. “The status quo isn’t acceptable, but I want to see it improved for everyone not just the richest.”
The Health Minister explained that Saskatchewan’s legislation is unique in that it requires the private clinic to provide a second scan to someone on the public list free of charge.
“I think it’s a long bow to say that the mere introduction of private MRI scans leads to longer wait times,” said Dustin Duncan. “It doesn’t account for what the public system is going to do at the same time or what we’re going to do here.”
The union representing health care workers in the province has also voiced concern that the move will drain public resources.
“It’s poaching people from the public system,” said Tom Graham, the Saskatchewan CUPE president. “The issue is, is there capacity to get caught up? If there is, why isn’t it in the public system?”
The law would require a patient to have a doctor referral to receive either a public or private MRI.
Comments