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N e w s - F u l l S t o r y :
Cancer backlog creates temporary private clinic WebPosted Mon Feb 19 14:30:24 2001 TORONTO-- The backlog for radiation
treatment is so bad in Ontario, the province's cancer agency has allowed a
private company to open an after-hours clinic to clear the lineups.
Canadian Radiation Oncology Services Ltd. will treat cancer patients Monday
to Friday at Toronto's Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre.
Since last summer, Ontario has been sending about 20 patients every week to
Buffalo, N.Y., Cleveland or Detroit for treatment.
The agency wants to clear up the backlog by June 1.
Some people have had to wait as long as seven months for treatment.
Since April 1999 more than 1,600 patients with breast and prostate cancer
have travelled across the border for radiation treatments.
The agency has been hiring more staff but despite that, regional cancer
centres have had to extend hours to accommodate the growing list of patients.
Running the after-hours clinic will incur extra costs but officials at Cancer
Care Ontario believe millions will be saved, especially with American treatments
costing more than double.
As much as $13 million could be saved each year if the agency stops sending
people to the U.S.
The Health Ministry pays $3,000 for a radiation treatment in the province.
The clinic will get the same rate, plus an undisclosed amount in volume
incentives.
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