BC United calls out NDP for lagging uptake in cancer treatment outsourcing program

BC United leader Kevin Falcon says the province’s attempt to ease radiation wait times in hospitals by sending patients across the border simply isn’t working.

In May, Health Minister Adrian Dix announced that up to 50 cancer patients would be able to be sent to Bellingham, Washington weekly for radiation therapy.

However, six months into that program, Falcon is calling out the government for a failure to fulfill those numbers.

“They can’t even send the number of patients that they’ve contracted for. An average of 12 patients per week have been treated in the United States, not even close to the over 50 patients per week that the NDP contracted with U.S. hospitals for,” he said.

But Health Minister Adrian Dix says it isn’t that the NDP’s plan isn’t working, it’s just that British Columbians are opting not to travel that far for treatment.

He says the focus of the outsourcing program is on people with breast and testicular cancer, as they are generally the most able to travel. He adds the choice to go to the states for treatment is voluntary, not mandatory.

“I feel the system is working exactly as it should work,” Dix said. “We bought the capacity, we’re able to deal with increased demand should it be required and that’s precisely what we’ve done and we pay for what we get.”

This comes after a stage four ovarian cancer patient detailed her experience having to seek treatment across the B.C.-U.S. border in order to survive in an open letter to Dix.

Eby responded to the patient’s open letter saying that cancer patients in B.C. need to have confidence they are getting prompt, top-quality care.

“And we are not there,” Eby told reporters recently. “We have had to go to the United States and retain a private clinic to deliver cancer care to people. We shouldn’t have to do that, but we took the step to ensure people get care in a timely way.”

Dix says the province is continuing to increase its cancer resources by hiring dozens of health professionals in the field. Since April 1, he says B.C. has hired 61 doctors and oncologists, and 29 radiation specialists.

While the province can’t require anyone to seek treatment outside of B.C., Dix says for every person who does agree to travel, treatment can be expedited for them and those unable to leave the province for care.