Coalition of health organizations urges ban on medical tourism

TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2014 /CNW/ - A coalition of provincial health organizations will hold a media conference on Wednesday to speak out against medical tourism.

Representatives from the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, Canadian Doctors for Medicare, the Association of Ontario Midwives, and the Association of Ontario Health Centres say the government needs to demonstrate leadership to prevent medical tourism from delaying Ontarians' access to health care.

Medical tourism refers to a practice where hospitals create for-profit programs to attract patients from across international borders to receive health care on a pay-for-treatment basis.

The health groups say that hospitals should not be allowed to create two-tier, for-profit programs, and want the government to ban the practice.

WHO:

• Representatives of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, Canadian Doctors for Medicare, the Association of Ontario Midwives and the Association of Ontario Health Centres

WHAT:

• Urging a ban on medical tourism

WHERE:

• Queen's Park media studio, Legislative Building, Room 149, Queen's Park, Toronto, Ont.

WHEN:

• Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 9:45 a.m.

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and nursing students in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health-care system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve. For more information about RNAO, visit our website at RNAO.ca or follow us on Facebook  and Twitter.

Canadian Doctors for Medicare is a physician-led organization committed to evidence-based advocacy and innovation that will protect and improve Canada's single-payer universal health care system. For more information about CDM, visit www.canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca

The Association of Ontario Midwives is the professional organization representing midwives and the profession of midwifery in Ontario. For more information about Ontario Midwives, visit www.OntarioMidwives.ca and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Association of Ontario Health Centres (AOHC) is Ontario's voice for community-governed primary health care. The association represents 111 community-governed primary health-care organizations. Membership includes Ontario's Community Health Centres, Aboriginal Health Access Centres, Community Family Health Teams and Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics. For more information, visit us on www.aohc.org  and follow up at Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE: Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

or to arrange an interview, please contact: Marion Zych, Director of Communications, RNAO, Office: 416-408-5605, Cellular: 647-406-5605, [email protected]; Katie Raso, Communication and Outreach Officer, CDM, 647-705-2192, [email protected]; Juana Berinstein, Director of Policy and Communications, AOM, Office: 416-425-9974 extension: 2229, [email protected]; Adrianna Tetley, Chief Executive Officer, AOHC, Office: 416-689-9352, [email protected]