The committee appreciates that the department and the relevant boards have addressed the medical travel concerns of Kakisa residents and have instituted a plan that everyone agrees on. However, this does not address the broader concerns with the medical travel policy. Residents of small communities wonder why medical travel does not apply when someone travels on their own initiative for medical purposes or seeks a second opinion when dealing with a serious medical matter. The medical travel policy, as it stands, does not address the inequities in access to medical services for those who happen to live in larger centres and for those residents of smaller communities who can only access a similar level of service at their own expense.

Committee members recognize that these are complicated issues and that medical travel is a major cost driver within the health and social services system. However, from a perspective of fairness and equity, if a second opinion reveals additional information which aids in the effective treatment of an individual, the individual should be compensated for the personal expense they incurred to obtain that second opinion.

Members raised this issue during the June 2000 review of the 2000/2001 Main Estimates but, as of yet, have received no response from the Minister. The committee requests a response by March 15, 2001.