New Data Concludes Wait Times for Patients With Gastrointestinal Disease Are Increasing Across Canada - MarketWatch

New Data Concludes Wait Times for Patients With Gastrointestinal Disease Are Increasing Across Canada - MarketWatch

OAKVILLE, ONTARIO, May 17, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) today joined the Ontario Association of Gastroenterology (OAG) in voicing their objection to the Government of Ontario's May 7, 2012 decision to overhaul the fee structure for approximately 40 medical procedures and services that Ontario doctors provide. Colonoscopies are among the medical tests for which professional fees face a cut of 10%.

Pointing to new initial data gathered in April 2012 from the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Survey of Access to GastroEnterology (SAGE), Desmond Leddin, Lead of the SAGE, says "a comparison of data from surveys performed in 2005 and 2008 shows that wait times for patients with gastrointestinal disease have increased across Canada."

"This CAG national survey information combined with the new fee structure in Ontario gives us cause for concern about patient safety," says CAG President Dan Sadowski.

"With evidence in hand that patient wait times have been increasing over the past seven years, we can't support any government decision - in Ontario or elsewhere in Canada - that results in reduced access to, or longer wait times for, important medical procedures including colonoscopy, which can prevent and reduce cancer rates.".....