Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to address the issue of common sense in health care delivery decisions and the opportunity to save money and improve outcomes.
Starting with an example, my constituent`s daughter is currently a student in Victoria. She has the basic NWT health coverage which is available to students. She has a history of stage 4 cancer beginning at age seven and her survival is considered a bit of a miracle. Now 27, she learned that because of treatment received, she is at risk for developing a secondary cancer. She was asked to go to Vancouver this fall for a follow-up at the B.C. Cancer Agency.
Medical Travel advised that the ferry trip, food and accommodation would not be provided since she was not a resident in Yellowknife. Further inquiries to the Inuvik office confirmed that no funding would be provided. They did note that if she was a resident in Yellowknife, her flights to and from Edmonton would be covered, as well as some living expenses. Mr. Speaker, this would have cost far more than a return ferry trip to Vancouver. Where is the common sense here?
Inuvik confirmed that this same scenario occurred to a student in Grande Prairie last summer. How is it that students are not properly covered when they go away to school? There is a similar lack of common sense in the situation with the MS patient in Hay River that is profiled by my colleague for Hay River South.
Mr. Speaker, there is a desperate need for some flexibility and horse sense here. Everyone understands the needs for rules and routine procedures, but why can we not institute a process for bumping up decisions when there are clearly options for reduced cost and better medical outcomes such as prevention, early diagnosis or treatment?
Every one of my colleagues have been frustrated with situations brought to the Minister where savings, prevention and better medical treatment could have been achieved, but because it was against the rules, the Minister claims she cannot make an exception. At a minimum, we need a process that gives a patient the option of coming up with cheaper medical travel when travel is needed, and the opportunity for system approval of this. Savings might be from a closer location for treatment, a less costly though perhaps a bit slower form of travel, or just staying at a friend’s, with compensation that is much reduced from that of a hotel room.
Mr. Speaker, let’s put some common sense and flexibility into our health system. Let’s change our preference from bureaucracy to a strong focus on prevention, resolution of medical issues and opportunities for reduced costs. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
