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Why is John Tory so eager to push Ontario into more U.S.-style health care delivery?
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Toronto (20 Sept. 2007) - Ontario's Conservative John Tory would bleed experienced staff away from the public health system and lengthen wait times by further opening up Ontario to private for-profit clinics, says the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE).
Reacting to Tory’s recent campaign comments in Toronto, the union questions how siphoning more health care professionals into the private sector is going to help reduce wait times across the province.
“There is no army of health care professionals waiting on the sidelines,” says OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “These clinics would take out of the hospitals needed health professionals and lengthen the wait times -- particularly for more serious and complex procedures. That’s a recipe for disaster.”
The union takes issue with many of Tory’s claims
Tory says there would be no out of pocket fees, yet the same argument was made about private labs, which now have a list of about 200 tests which are no longer covered under OHIP and require payment from patients.
He says doctors have extra time to spend in these clinics, yet new doctors are increasingly looking at working less time, not more. Further, by working both in and out of the public system, doctors would be encouraged to funnel patients into the more financially lucrative for-profit practice.
“Why is John Tory so eager to push us into more U.S.-style health care delivery?” asks Thomas. “Hasn’t he seen Michael Moore’s film SiCKO? We’d gladly buy him a ticket.” NUPGE