TORONTO - Ontario will try to get cataract patients surgery within six months after the province got a cheque for $205 million from Ottawa to shorten wait times Tuesday.
The cash, which was included in last week's federal budget, means all cataract patients are guaranteed a shorter wait for surgery starting in January 2009.
In the meantime, Health Minister George Smitherman said the province will try to ensure cataract patients don't wait longer than six months -- even if it means sending them to a hospital across the province to get the procedure.
"Today we make a big step forward,'' Smitherman said as the funding was announced at Toronto East General Hospital.
"This is a big step for public health care. We're grateful for the chance to demonstrate progress to the people.''
Cataract surgery has already been identified by the province as one of six key procedures that gets priority and extra funding.
Ontario is the most recent province to sign on to Ottawa's own wait-times guarantee.
Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Quebec are also getting federal funding to shorten wait times for cardiac surgery, cancer therapy and cataract surgery.
"Canada truly is entering the world of patient wait-time guarantees,'' said federal Health Minister Tony Clement.
While the cash was welcomed by the province and its hospitals, some critics say the government's focus on key surgeries mean patients who need other medical procedures are waiting longer.
New Democrat Shelley Martel said people waiting for procedures like hernia operations are suffering because priority is given to other patients.
"We've seen them go in, get ready, get prepped and then have it cancelled -- that's hard psychologically and emotionally on people,'' she said.
"It seems clear those people outside the targeted areas are going to continue to wait and wait and wait for their procedures. That has a negative impact on them and their health.''
Hilary Short, president and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association, said the province has made great strides in reducing the time patients wait for key procedures.
Hopefully the federal cash to guarantee wait-times for cataract surgery is just the beginning, Short said.
"I hope we'll be able to guarantee wait times in the other (key) procedures before too long,'' she added.
"The country as a whole and Ontario is really serious about the reduction of wait times. This is a very positive step.''
