NDP Takes Action For Bariatric Surgery – Criticizes BC Liberal Government

VICTORIA – Adrian Dix, NDP Health Critic held a Press Conference today at the BC Legislature criticizing the Liberal Health Ministry’s acceptance of bariatric surgery budget cuts by the Vancouver Island Health Authority. (VIHA). Dix said that in talks with the Hon Kevin Falcon Minster of Health, he asked what evidence the government was using to justify VIHA’s budget cuts for weight loss by-pass surgery.

Adrian Dix - NDP Health Critic

The answer he received was that there were “too few doctors practising the surgery in BC, inferring that the government was worried about investing money in a method of treatment that was too dependant on a handful of individuals.”

Dix called the Liberal Government’s acceptance of the VIHA cuts as “short termed, completely concerned with budget considerations that make absolutely no sense.” Asked to reflect on the government decision to single out patients with obesity disabilities, Dix  felt that it was either direct evidence of bigotry towards over weight British Columbians or VIHA and the Government knows that they can  get away with it because of the general attitude of society towards obesity issues. Either way, British Columbians seeking obesity treatment through weight loss by-pass surgery have been left out in the cold.

Mr Dix pointed out that VIHA is the only Health Authority in BC that does any weight loss by-pass surgery and that it was inconceivable that the Government would allow VIHA to reduce this surgery by 60%. Dix asked that the Government cancel the VIHA cuts for the next 2 years and review the need to meet the same level of funding for bariatric surgery as Ontario has done.

B.C. LIBERAL HEALTH CUTS LEAVE PATIENTS WAITING SIX YEARS FOR MEDICALLY-NECESSARY SURGERIES

The B.C. Liberals’ decision to make patients wait up to six years for medically-necessary bariatric surgeries contravenes expert medical opinion and goes against best practices being adopted by other provinces; said New Democrat health critic Adrian Dix today.

“At a time when the Canadian Medical Association Journal is reporting that the wait time for medically-necessary bariatric surgery is unacceptable, the B.C. Liberals are drastically reducing these operations by 60. per cent. In contrast, jurisdictions like Ontario are increasing access to this procedure, considered by experts to be the best available treatment for certain patients,” said Dix.

Vancouver Island Health Authority, which performs gastric bypass surgery for patients from around the province, is cutting the number of procedures from 124 to 52, a decrease of over almost 60 per cent.

”This cut will add 12 months to the multi-year wait many patients already face,” said Dix, who noted that the wait time for bariatric surgery is upwards of five years.

Physicians prescribe bariatric surgeries for patients diagnosed with morbid obesity, or obesity linked to chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, after other weight loss techniques are fully exhausted and prove ineffective. In a recent edition of the CMAJ, clinicians ranked bariatric surgery as the best available treatment for certain patients.

Dix pointed to other jurisdictions that are implementing forward-looking health policy that significantly improves people’s health and reduces hospitalization.

“As part of its strategy to prevent and reduce disability, ER visits, and acute care admissions, the government of Ontario is investing in increased bariatric surgeries. It is implementing a bariatric treatment network that expands upon existing programs, establishes new centres of excellence, and provides ongoing support for patients,” said Dix.

Dix was joined by affected patients, who came to the provincial legislature to present their case for the cuts to be reversed.

Bryan Llewllyn

“Clinical evidence shows that these cuts will lead to longer wait-lists, putting patients at risk and increased pressure on the health system. We are hoping that Health Minister Kevin Falcon becomes fully informed on this issue, and make a decision based on the evidence, ” said patient and advocate Bryan Llewllyn.

Carole James and New Democrats have been holding the B.C. Liberals accountable for breaking their word on the HST, and for backtracking on their election promises to protect health care, education, and other vital services.

Author
Ron Merk

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