Ban killer change in OHIP medical test rules

A recent rule change bans Winnipeg doctors ordering tests for Ontario residents who are now expected to travel six hours to Thunder Bay to have blood tests and scans. Two hours to Winnipeg for someone in fragile health or in an emergency is life threatening but six hours will kill people.

For those who need several tests regularly it will at the very least wear down their ability to fight to get better. Many will not be able to afford the time or cost. Their families will suffer. Their employers will suffer. OHIP describes itself as one of the best medical care providers in the world, what do you think?

There are a number of other issues that seriously affect patients health. Tax payers have paid a huge amount of money to put resident's medical records on line. What is the hold up; the gravy train? The communication between Ontario and Manitoba needs improving. It would help if OHIP paid Manitoba healthcare for services to Ontario residents on time or at all. In summer all the small towns and cities affected have a huge number of visitors and payment for the potential law suits this will cause will fall to the taxpayer.

The bill for this change will fall on the taxpayer and individual patient. It will also put tremendous pressure on Thunder Bay. T-Bay already sends difficult cases to Winnipeg! Presumably those patients they already can't treat will be sent to Toronto? If you are young and in good health you can still have an emergency. Imagine having to travel the much longer journey to Thunder Bay to services that will be overwhelmed by this rule change, will you survive? Will your child? For me this is a human rights issue. If it is not immediately dealt with and people die it is unforgivable. Is it time to create a new Province or join Manitoba?

Please consider all the motives some cold blooded behind this quietly introduced rule change. Help me and so many others by signing a petition to put pressure on those who made this decision to reconsider.