Cataract Surgery-2
April 14, 2010
Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Last night I had an excellent conversation with an eye doctor who is absolutely horrified at the actions taken by the government as it relates to cataract surgeries and cornea transplants. The health minister likes to talk about two arms: one arm is the department, and the other arm is the delivery of health services. My question is to the minister of health. Can the minister tell us if one of his arms inspected all or any of the facilities, and how can you inspect a building that hasn’t even been opened yet?
Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, this question was asked of me by a few people involved in the system. I said that I would have a review of that done, and we’re looking into that right now. In fact, I’m going to be doing some of it this weekend.
Mrs. Forsyth: Mr. Speaker, that’s unacceptable. They’ve awarded a contract, and the building hasn’t even been done. My next question is to the minister of health. Since the government likes to talk about competitiveness, Bill 1, why have they shut down surgical theatres and facilities and given a monopoly over contract surgeries to a small group? How is that competitive, Minister?
Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member’s preamble was actually very incorrect. The facilities that have been awarded the contracts do exist, but at least one of them is expanding. There’s a fundamental difference there. That expansion is expected to be completed sometime in May or June. It will be inspected by the college, and we hope it will be accredited – we’re sure it will be – shortly thereafter.
Mrs. Forsyth: My final question today is again to the minister. The minister has told this Assembly that there is a second blitz coming on cataract surgery and cornea transplants. What does this mean, and how will these procedures get done without all of the skilled professionals who’ve now been let go because of your decisions?
Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, this was a fully transparent, open, publicly tendered process, that closed on January 15. I assume that the hon. members know that. However, to answer the question about the blitz, we did a very successful first blitz, which added – added – 2,230 new surgeries to the system. About 750-plus were specifically cataract surgeries. That now is going to be piggybacked on by a second blitz, which I will be announcing very soon. In the meantime, between those two blitzes we have the ongoing year-long eye surgeries, that will now continue.
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