[CUPE healthcare list] SK puts out RFP for CT scans

[Irene Jansen <ijansen@cupe.ca>]

Below is news coverage of the Saskatchewan's privatization of diagnostic imaging. First, a reminder of the great research by the Ontario Health Coalition on the impacts of privatizing these services in Ontario (and the Liberal government's reversal, ending those contracts in 2007).

OHC Private Clinics Report (October 2008) - case study of Ontario for-profit MRI/CT clinics, pp. 22-24
http://www.web.net/ohc/Privatization.htm

OHC analysis of public vs contracted-out CT and MRI scans (March 2003):
http://www.web.net/ohc/docs/funny.htm

OHC backgrounder on private MRI and CT clinics (news release below) (September 2002):
http://www.web.net/ohc/MRI-CT.htm

____________________________________

Birthplace of medicare eyes private CT scans to cut patient wait times
The Canadian Press
Tue Jun 1 2010
Section: Western Regional General News
Byline: BY JENNIFER GRAHAM

REGINA _ The birthplace of medicare is turning to the private sector for diagnostic imaging in a bid to reduce a backlog of patients waiting for scans.

Saskatchewan Health Minister Don McMorris said Tuesday that there's too much of a delay in patient diagnosis and wait times for CT scans are a particular concern in Regina. The Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region has three CT scanners, two at Regina General Hospital and one at Pasqua Hospital. All are running seven days a week, 16 hours a day.

``The CT scans that we are operating in this area are pretty much at capacity,'' said McMorris.

The region is now looking for a third party to provide the scans.

McMorris said the private scans would have to cost the same as, or less than, those in the public system. A private facility could start giving those scans in early 2011, he said.

``This is not in any way taking away the services that are delivered in a hospital,'' he said.

``They're running at capacity right now and will continue to run at capacity. This allows for taking some people, who don't have to go through the hospital setting, out of that setting and access it through a third-party deliverer.''

The decision to turn to the private sector is not without controversy.

It goes against recommendations made by former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow, who headed a commission on health care in Canada. Romanow said as recently as last August that the system needs some work, but changes should not include privatization. He said there's no evidence that ``grafting'' elements of privatization onto public health works.

The Opposition NDP said having CT scans done by a third party is ``a step down the road'' to the privatization of health care.

Health critic Judy Junor said she believes the patient backlog can be tackled within the public system, but it will take more support from the Saskatchewan Party government.

``They are underfunding the public system to make people believe that they have to do this,'' said Junor.

``If you're underfunding them ... the districts are not going to be able to rise to the challenge of adding more surgeries. It makes people say, 'Oh, well then, we have to go to the private sector' _ which is exactly what the government is setting the stage for.''

McMorris said there isn't enough space in the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region to add another scanner. That's why the third-party option is being explored.

``But it's very important to understand too _ very important _ that this is still within the publicly funded, publicly administered system. There is no queue-jumping. The scheduling will all be run through the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region. The only difference will be the deliverer.''

McMorris compared the decision to use the private sector for diagnostic imaging to ambulance services. He noted that Saskatoon uses a private deliverer for ambulance service while Regina uses a public one.

``People aren't so worried about who the deliverer is as long as the service is there and that's what we feel this will do is provide greater service to the people in this area.''

Trent Truscott, executive director of surgery for the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, said there are currently about 1,100 people waiting for CT scans. Truscott said people who urgently need a scan could wait up to 30 days, while people who need elective scans can wait as long as a year.

Truscott said another scanner, even in the private sector, would take pressure off the health region's machines and staff.

``Anything that provides capacity to the system, especially right now, is a good move,'' he said.

``I think removing the backlog would take some strain off (the system). There's no doubt about that. But the demand for CT services continues to increase. It's a good diagnostic tool and the need isn't going to disappear.''

Copyright ?010 The Canadian Press

Length: 648 words
Idnumber: 201006010337



Private scan clinic OK'd; CT strategy will reduce wait times: province
The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon)
Wed Jun 2 2010
Page: A3
Section: Third Page
Byline: Angela Hall
Dateline: REGINA
Source: Saskatchewan News Network; Regina Leader-Post

A private clinic could be conducting publicly funded CT scans in Regina by next year as the Saskatchewan Party government seeks to reduce wait times.

Health Minister Don McMorris announced Tuesday the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region has put out a request for proposals seeking a "third-party supplier" that could offer CT services in a publicly funded, private facility starting in 2011.

The three scanners already operating at two Regina hospitals are running at maximum capacity seven days a week doing 75,000 scans a year and there are presently 1,100 people on the waiting list, the health region says.

"We feel this is an opportunity to use a third-party deliverer to expand the capacity in this area," said McMorris.

"But it's very important to understand, too, very important, that this is still within the publicly funded, publicly administered system. There is no queue jumping. The scheduling will all be run through the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region. The only difference would be the deliverer."

NDP health critic Judy Junor said the government is turning to the private sector when progress on wait times could be made by properly funding the public system.

"It's just another step along that philosophical road that the Sask. Party is on. They're going to privatize health services and they're doing it piece by piece," Junor said of the request for proposals.

"They're basically telling people that we have to do this. The public system is overtaxed, overextended, that it can't handle it. That's the part that really annoys me, is that the public is being manipulated by the Sask. Party to think that this is the only way to go."

But McMorris said using a third party to deliver CT scans is no different than having third parties deliver X-rays within the publicly funded system and contended a lack of physical space makes it difficult to add another scanner to the Pasqua or General hospitals.

The government said privately delivered CT scans will have to cost the same or less than the services delivered in the public system. McMorris said he expects several groups, possibly including some First Nations, will be interested in submitting a proposal.

McMorris said it's possible the province could issue a request for proposals seeking a third party to help with MRI services in the future if needed, but the current problem area is CT scans in the Regina area.

CT scan wait times in Regina Qu'Appelle range from up to a month for urgent cases to a year for lower-priority matters, said Trent Truscott, executive director of surgery for the health region. A fourth scanner is expected to increase the annual capacity of the system by 10,000 scans.

The government first signalled its willingness to pursue arrangements with third parties to deliver diagnostic imaging when it unveiled a plan in March to cut wait times for surgery to no longer than three months by 2014.

As part of that plan, the government is negotiating with two existing private clinics in Saskatoon and Regina to see if they could provide some out-patient surgery within the public system.

Edition: Final
Story Type: News
Length: 509 words
Idnumber: 201006020007