Gélinas denounces privatization of basic healthcare services in Sudbury

QUEEN’S PARK – The Ford government should not be allowing private companies like Sparrow Health to charge patients in Sudbury to access basic healthcare services, said MPP France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) during question period on Wednesday.

“Many residents in Sudbury and Nickel Belt have approached my office complaining about a new health service they are being pressured to purchase in order to receive basic health care services from their family physician,” said Gélinas, the NDP's critic for Health.

Sparrow Health is an online product that charges patients for services that were previously free of charge. They are telling residents of Nickel Belt to pay $20 or wait for the next in-person appointment with their family physician, said Gélinas.

“With so many people who can barely afford the cost of their prescription, this government should not be allowing companies to charge people an extra $20 for the services of their family physician,” said Gélinas.“ This company is profiting off the doctor shortage in Northern Ontario, frankly created by the Liberal government, but not helped very much by this government.”

The average wait time to see a family physician in Nickel Belt is four to six weeks.

“Jody in my riding needed her prescription medication renewed. She had to pay $20 plus a $10 fee to have the prescription faxed the same day. That’s $30 that she had to pay for services that are covered by OHIP if she goes and sees her family physician,” said Gélinas.

"Does this government believe it is acceptable for people to have to use their credit card instead of their OHIP card to get basic medical care from their own family physician?"