More questions about new private clinic in Vancouver
NDP health critic Adrian Dix is raising questions about whether theweekend agreement between Vancouver's newprivate medical clinic and the provincial government is good for taxpayers and good for patients.
The clinic, the Urgent Care Centre,opened on Friday, saying it planned to charge patients directly for its services — which would have been a contravention of the Canada Health Act.
On Friday night, the B.C. Ministry of Health and the clinic had reached an agreement that would see all billing for medically necessary procedures done through the government's Medical Services Plan.
Details of dealsecret
Dix told CBC News that the public has not been told what the government has agreed to pay the False Creek Surgical Centre, which operates the clinic.
"Whether in fact there's a special deal and a special rate, because these discussions happened in secret, and False Creek has been rewarded for essentially holding the government to ransom."
Dix complains the government has given up the right to audit the activities of the new clinic. He also said he wants the details of the agreement made public before it is finalized.
At an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Thursday, the day before the clinic was set to open, the government decided that B.C.'s Medical Services Commission should send in inspectors tolook for evidence of illegal activity.
It alsoauthorized the commission to seek an injunction to shut the clinic down if necessary.
More negotiations underway
The centre's medical director, Dr. Mark Godley, told CBC Radio on Monday they still have to work out with the government exactly what is medically necessary, and just when the centre will be able to charge extra fees for certain procedures.
"We've told the ministry we're just going to provide all services through the B.C. Care Card." he said.
"Obviously, this is expensive for our business, and we have to work out an agreement as soon as possible with the Ministry of Health, and we are working on that starting today.
Godley said the clinic's doctors will keep working in the public system, doing only one or two shifts per month at the new facility.