Post-stroke recovery patients confront Ontario health minister over need for treatment

A bill was passed in Ontario several months ago that required the government to set evidence-based treatments for people in need for post-stroke therapy. Two patients unable to access treatments took their grievances to the health minister on May 11.

Jim McEwen, 66 and Dan Gingras, 30, remarked that they were being denied treatment because of their age. In Ontario, people from 20 to 64 years old were unable to cover the cost of the treatments but the age discrimination was removed by the passing of the bill.

“Can you honestly look Dan in the eye and tell him he has to wait until the age of 65 to receive treatment? Come on… he needs that now.” McEwen stated about the situation, as quoted by Global News.

Doctor Eric Hoskins, who spoke with the two patients, remarked that he wanted to reassure the patients that Ontario is taking the bill seriously and intending to set it up specifically. A task force made up of organizations involved with stroke patients has been established and data from hospitals is being extracted to create consistency across the province.

Hoskins mentioned that there would be about “250 community physiotherapy clinics in the province, and seniors and people receiving Ontario Works/Ontario Disability Support Program are eligible for public-funded physiotherapy.” Anyone who doesn’t meet those requirements will have to obtain a medical professional to sign off on OHIP-funded treatment, however.

According to the Heart and Stroke foundation, the international stroke rates among adults aged 24-54 is predicted to double in the next 15 years.

Read the full article by Global News BC here: http://globalnews.ca/news/3445438/post-stroke-health-care-ontario/