Madam Chair, I asked the question of the Minister in the last two weeks regarding the fact that it was my understanding and the information that was provided to me that there is a long waiting list of patient referrals to specialists and these referrals have to be dealt with by a medical doctor. Up to this point I have not received a confirmation on this from the Minister. Could he tell me whether or not this is the case and how it is going to be dealt with?
Debates of Oct. 22nd, 1997
Topics
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chair. It was the case in that they have advised me that there was a backlog because there were some transitional difficulties in early October as a result of the termination of the northern medical unit contract that was taking place at that time. Since then, like I indicated, they have made some arrangements to continue to have accessibility at least on a telephone consultative basis with the physicians in Churchill and the backlogs at the various health centres will start to diminish in November when they have the other complements of physicians that come on stream and be able to send out some of those physicians to the communities to deal with those backlogs. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, given the question that I just asked and the answer that the Minister provided, is he still convinced that the people of the Keewatin are not at risk regarding their health services in the Kivallivik? Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I have said before and I will continue to say that, no I do not believe they are at risk in respect to the issue of accessibility to physician services. Obviously, we cannot guarantee that the health status of all individuals or any individuals for that matter, because you do not know what the circumstances are surrounding treatment and surrounding conditions that require individuals to receive treatment. As far as accessibility to physicians and specialists, the plans are there and are being finalized for that type of coverage. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 75
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we have recently been provided with information that show that the cost of hiring these doctors for the Keewatin, whatever arrangements are being made as the Minister has indicated. It is going to be much higher than what the original costs that were laid out and that were paid to other doctors in the past. I asked the Minister last week a question regarding the cost benefit analysis that was asked for regarding the Baffin situation and the proposed changes and moves in their medical services. The Minister indicated that it was not necessary to have this cost benefit analysis done in the Keewatin. Given the fact that information has come forward that these costs are somewhat higher, does he still think it is not necessary to conduct the cost benefit analysis to see whether or not the changes that are proposed, if they are cost effective?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 75
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chair. No, I do not believe so because it has not been confirmed to me that there are extraordinary costs of recruitment as a result of some of the information I have received to date. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I can assure the Minister from the reports that I see from my community and also other Keewatin communities that there is a great deal of concern and dissatisfaction with the system we have in place to date. Back to my question regarding the cost benefit analysis, it is my understanding that as a result of not having these doctors in the communities, large numbers of patients and residents have to be flown elsewhere to see doctors. That in itself would tell me that the cost factor has increased. As a result, I would ask the Minister again if he would conduct a cost benefit analysis of the proposed changes for the Keewatin regarding their delivery of health services. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chair. Not at this time. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Ng. I have on the list Mr. Roland, Mr. Henry, Mr. Picco. Mr. Roland.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Madam Chair. My question to the Minister would be in the area of standards. Who sets the standards for the Northwest Territories?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we do as a ministry. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 76
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chair. I believe that we would as a department as well. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Madam Chair. Is it the department that the would implement these standards or health boards?