Does Ontario need MORE private health care? | Nerds On Health Care

Описание: Does Ontario need more private health care? Doug Ford’s government has introduced a controversial plan to expand private health care services in Ontario, arguing that it will help reduce surgical backlogs and improve wait times. But many experts warn that this could mark the beginning of a two-tier health-care system, undermining Canada’s universal health care model.

Ontario already has a mix of public and private health-care providers. Many services are covered by OHIP, but others require private insurance or out-of-pocket payments. With the passage of Bill 60, the Your Health Act, Ford’s government has allowed private, for-profit, and not-for-profit clinics to conduct nearly 60,000 more OHIP-covered surgeries and diagnostic scans, including cataract surgeries, MRI and CT scans, minimally invasive gynecological procedures, and eventually knee and hip replacements.

Supporters argue that outsourcing these procedures will increase efficiency, improve patient care, and reduce surgical backlogs. In early 2022, 105,000 Ontarians were waiting longer than recommended for surgery—a 123% increase from pre-pandemic levels. Proponents say that as long as these procedures remain covered by OHIP, fears of a U.S.-style private health-care system are overblown.

But critics see Bill 60 as a major risk to public health care. They argue that private clinics could lure doctors, surgeons, and nurses away from hospitals, worsening staffing shortages and increasing wait times in the public system. There’s also concern that for-profit clinics may upsell patients on unnecessary procedures or charge for upgrades that aren’t covered by OHIP. Studies from British Columbia and Quebec suggest that privatized surgeries may actually cost taxpayers more.

The Ford government says that safeguards are in place to prevent these risks, but some health-care professionals remain unconvinced. They argue that instead of expanding private health care, the government should invest more in Ontario’s public system.

So, what does private health care in Ontario really mean? Will Bill 60 improve patient outcomes or undermine Canada’s health-care system? Will this reduce long wait times, or will private clinics create new problems?

Join TVO Today’s Maria Sarrouh as she breaks down Doug Ford’s plan for private health care and what it means for Ontarians.

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