The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) is voicing concerns over the province’s plans to increase publicly-funded surgeries at private clinics, citing the experiences of two London residents who were billed thousands for cataract surgeries as emblematic of the risks associated with for-profit healthcare.
According to the OHC, these cases are among hundreds reported by Ontario residents in recent years, alleging charges for procedures covered by OHIP, despite federal and provincial laws prohibiting such practices.
Most affected individuals are seniors with fixed incomes, and the majority of complaints involve for-profit clinics billing for cataract surgeries, as highlighted in a recent OHC report.
Peter Bergmanis, co-chair of the London Health Coalition, emphasized that these clinics lure patients away from public waitlists, promising quicker eye care. However, he argued that waiting a few months in the public sector could provide better care at no extra cost.
During a news conference, Bergmanis shared the stories of Maureen Munro, a local senior, and Mike Suta, whose wife Debbie underwent cataract surgery.
Munro, facing macular degeneration, was informed by her optometrist that waiting for hospital-based cataract surgery would take two years. She opted for a private clinic, expecting to pay $3,000 but was shocked to receive a bill closer to $7,000, forcing her to take out a loan.
The OHC’s report revealed incidents where patients were told to pay for OHIP-covered surgeries or face lengthy waits for hospital procedures. Patients also reported being charged for unnecessary add-ons and denied surgery if they declined to pay out-of-pocket.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones reiterated that Ontarians should not pay for OHIP-insured services at private clinics. She dismissed the OHC as an “out-of-touch, NDP-backed special interest group” and highlighted the province’s efforts to increase OHIP-covered surgeries and introduce oversight measures.
Mike Suta shared his wife’s experience, expressing frustration with the lack of regulation in private clinics. He questioned why the same surgeon who performed OHIP-covered surgery at a hospital charged privately for the same procedure.
The province plans to expand private clinic services to reduce wait times and costs, despite concerns raised by health advocates and opposition parties about potential privatization of healthcare.
Last year, CBC News reported that the province paid a for-profit surgery clinic more for certain OHIP-covered procedures than public hospitals, raising questions about the direction of Ontario’s healthcare system.
