PROFIT® and Nova Scotia's Bill 126 on private health facilities
In November 2006, Nova Scotia Health Minister Chris D’Entremont released the text of Bill 126, known as the Health Facilities Licensing and Equitable Access to Insured Services Act. According to Minister D’Entremont, “This act protects the public system by clearly defining, in legislation, our commitment to one system that is publicly managed and publicly paid for."
After passing the Bill, the Nova Scotia government moved forward with plans to pay private-for-profit clinics to perform surgeries. The government recently signed a $1 million contract with Scotia Surgery Inc. to do 500 orthopaedic surgeries.
Council protest at Scotia Surgery
As reported in the Chronicle-Herald, "A group of protesters gathered in Dartmouth on Saturday to praise public health care and denounce a stopgap arrangement between the provincial government and a private medical clinic on Acadia Street. About 20 demonstrators assembled in an empty parking lot across the road from the Scotia Surgery Inc. building and criticized a Health Department-approved contract, signed earlier this year, between the Capital district health authority and owners of the for-profit clinic."
Resources:
Private clinics ruining public health care, Maude Barlow
The Chronicle-Herald (Halifax) | May 7, 2008
ACTION ALERT: Demand the Nova Scotia government rescind contract with private health care clinic (March 20, 2008)
N.S. moves to regulate private health clinics
CBC News | November 23, 2006
N.S. health minister seeks input on private care
CTV News | October 24, 2006
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