Time to raise our voices. Patients and health coalitions can complain if patients are getting bad advice, being wrongly charged or “upsold”
The Ontario Health Coalition says it has filed 50 complaints against the Ford government on behalf of patients who say they’ve been charged user fees when they go for cataract surgery at private clinics.
Here is the video of the Ontario Health Coalition’s news conference announcing the 50 complaints:
The Ontario Health Coalition has gathered evidence — including proof of payment and patient reports — from fifty Ontarians.
The coalition says it has received more than 200 complaints over the last year. These represent only a small fraction of the number of patients who are facing charges of hundreds to thousands of dollars when they go for cataract surgery in private clinics.
The move to give for-profit clinics a bigger role in surgeries was announced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford in 2023, allegedly to reduce wait times and clear the backlog of cataract operations and knee and hip replacements.
Ford declared that Ontarians would not have to pay for increased private-sector involvement.
“I can assure you, I’m looking into the camera, no Ontarian will ever have to pay with a credit card. They will pay with their OHIP card,” said Premier Ford at a press conference in 2023
But the Ontario Health Coalition says patients, particularly seniors, are using their life savings to pay for their cataract surgery.
The Ford government should reimburse patients and take action to stop upselling tactics at private clinics.
Ontario Health Coalition Executive Director Natalie Mehra sent a letter to Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones. The group is calling on the Ford government to reimburse patients and take action to stop upselling tactics at private clinics.
The coalition has also made its complaints known to new federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel.
How do I register a complaint about a physician or medical facility?
Since the provinces and territories are primarily responsible for the administration and delivery of health care services, you should contact your local provincial or territorial Ministry of Health with any complaints. The phone numbers and websites are located on the inside back cover of the current (2023-2024) Canada Health Act Annual Report.
If your complaint is about physician conduct, you can also contact your province or territory’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, the organization that governs physician licensing and conduct.
Links to each provincial and territorial medical regulatory authority can be found on the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada website.
Finally, you can contact the Canada Health Act Division of Health Canada with complaints. Telephone: 1-800-465-7735 (Service Canada). Email: medicare.spb.chad-dlcs.dgps.assurance.maladie@hc-sc.gc.ca.
If you have more questions about the Canada Health Act, there is a Frequently Asked Questions page.
