Nova Scotia doctors concerned about private health clinic in Halifax

The introduction of a private health care clinic in Halifax is a sign for the public system in the province that it must take drastic action to improve it, according to a spokesman. from Doctors Nova Scotia.

The professional association that represents about 3,500 physicians in Nova Scotia met on Saturday to discuss the issue, said Dr. Kevin Chapman.

"It was an enthusiastic discussion, I can say it," he said.

The triage center of the unified health community, which opened in August, highlights the lack of permanent access to primary health care in Nova Scotia, he added.

"I do not want to say that I applaud this clinic.I am very concerned about the introduction of private care.But they see a need and they step in to fill it when the public system can not do it and we need a public system to be able to do it. "

Doctors Nova Scotia has specific concerns about the clinic, Chapman said.

"At least in appearance, this seems to create a two-tiered system … for medically insured services.One of the concerns is that this slippery slope is hindering the erosion of a public health system? "

The association is writing a series of questions for the clinic and the Nova Scotia Health Authority to find answers to questions such as who oversees the delivery of services to Unified Health.

"Physicians are governed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Nova Scotia Health Authority is responsible for the delivery of care throughout the province at its facilities." We do not understand what this oversight [for the clinic] could be, "said Chapman.

The clinic's access to diagnostic services, such as lab tests and X-rays, is another concern for Doctors Nova Scotia.

A lot of questions

"If a person comes in and needs diagnostic tests, is that done in a private clinic or is it done in a public clinic and will the patient be charged?"

"At the end of the day, there were a lot of questions, and in the end we certainly see that this clinic is trying to provide needed services." Access to primary care is certainly a challenge in Nova Scotia, but our The aim would be to strengthen the public system rather than trying to set up a private system at the same time. "

Nova Scotians can currently get a type of triage in 811, where they talk to a nurse or nurse practitioner, Chapman said.

"It's basically the same sort of thing where they can just talk to me about the types of [medications] or direct me to a walk-in clinic or emergency room. It is recognized that the system requires a gateway with as many patients without attachments. "

The motive for profit is another concern, where naturopathy and other non-traditional treatments are associated with unified health, which are not insured by the public system, he added.

"It's the same reason that doctors are not allowed to prescribe and sell drugs at the same time."

More access to alternates

Meanwhile, Doctors Nova Scotia wants changes to the licensing regulations, making it difficult to practice outside the province, which is a major barrier to looking for replacements for other doctors.

"Ideally, a substitute, in a perfect world … we would pay to get them down here, we would pick them up at the airport, we would take them to the clinic, they would practice, we would pick them up, take them back to the school. And they were returning home, "said Chapman.

A task force of Doctors Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Health Authority was convened about a month ago to address some of the administrative hurdles.

"I think we need to go to a place where we find nine ways to say yes, before we have to say no, we make it easy for someone to come in. If you are working in Canada and you have a license Au Nouveau -Brunswick, I think we need to work with our college (doctors and surgeons) to make that easier … Transferability to the country has to be easier. "