Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. They go back to my Member’s statement from earlier today, where I spoke of a constituent who suffers from MS and her inability to get a WalkAide, which would enable her to walk, through Extended Health Benefits with the Department of Health. In her conversations with departmental officials they told her that this WalkAide was a luxury. I take great exception to anybody at Health and Social Services telling my constituent that a WalkAide, which would enable them to walk, is a luxury and suggesting to them that they get a cane or a wheelchair. I’d like to ask the Minister why the WalkAide is not part of our Extended Health Benefits here in the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Mr. Speaker, the NWT EHB Program is one of the best in the country. I understand that Mr. Ramsay’s constituent’s equipment, called a functional electrical stimulation system, was denied for benefit because it was not on the formulary guidelines. She was advised on three occasions that that was not on the list. She did not have a doctor’s referral from the NWT. She went to Alberta and purchased this equipment for $4,500, which is under a pilot program. The Alberta government has not even decided that they’re going to use this.
If I would have given the Member that straight answer, it would have taken me a week. I said that was not enough, because I do appreciate that this lady spent $4,500 of her own money to buy equipment that she felt she needed. What I had asked and what I am trying to do — and I have communicated with the Member throughout the process — is that I’d like to know if she could be eligible for the amount that she would have received had she purchased something that was on the list and that was similar. We have very good programs, but we ask our people to follow the rules and to follow the guidelines. I do believe that the Member respects the rules as well.
Mr. Speaker, I do respect the rules, but I think it is a sad day when one of our residents has to travel to Alberta to see a neurologist to get a prescription for a WalkAide, when here in the Northwest Territories it is not on the list. It adds to the quality of life for this individual. That is evident. That’s why they had to go to Alberta. They had to get a prescription from this Alberta doctor, a neurologist in Edmonton, to get a WalkAide.
Again, the Minister speaks of these other aids that are possibly available under the list. Could the Minister tell me today what those other options are, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Speaker, I understand there is a long list of available, approved and cost effective walk aids on the formulary. We also have doctors available in the NWT who would have been happy to see her. We forwarded her to the neurologist. I don’t have the background on why she had to go to Alberta. I would like to look at that.
I think the important point here, Mr. Speaker, is that we are wanting to help her. We are wanting to see how much of the cost we could cover for her, even though she did not see a doctor here — I know no reason why — even though she purchased something that was not on the list, even though she was told in three separate meetings that that was not on the list, that this was not an approved item.
Mr. Speaker, I’m offering the Member again: if he can ask the constituent to call…. I have asked my department to review her file and see if we can help her out at all. I didn’t close the door on that. That’s why it took that little while to get back to the Member.
The Minister didn’t answer my question. What other walk aids are on the list that would be available to my constituent to help her in the condition she’s in? What are those other options?
I do not have all of the list available. I could get the Member that information. I am aware that there are a number of our NWT residents with MS who get assistance for devices that they need. I understand that this device she purchased is in a pilot program in Alberta. Until the pilot program is finished, we have not decided to put that on the list. It may be that it could get on the list. It appears that this is an experimental device.
Mr. Speaker, I’m sure that if the constituent would go in and talk to the officials, we could give her a whole…. I believe she was given the list of things that are available.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.
Mr. Speaker, it’s unfortunate the Minister doesn’t have the list of available options for my constituent today.
Again, why would my constituent have to go to Alberta, where these devices, as the Minister stated, are being distributed for free? Residents in Alberta don’t have to pay $4,500 for this. There are sufferers of MS in Alberta that are using these devices for their quality of life. Why is it that in the Northwest Territories our residents are forced to pay $4,500 to enhance their quality of life so they can walk with this WalkAide? Why is that? What is the process to get the WalkAide on this list the Minister talks of?
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s important to note that the NWT has one of the best coverages for extended health benefits. We have a long list of things, pharmaceuticals and equipment, that the government does provide. Once in a while there comes a product on the market that has to be tested and examined before it gets on the list. Certain governments try it on an experimental basis. I understand that Alberta is trying that.
We do protect our constituents and provide them with services. All we ask, then, is to work with us to see what we can do to help her. We are working to help her. There are always any number of items on the market, whether it be drugs or devices, that are not covered, because they don’t catch up with the list on any given day.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
