Committee reviews sending health care patients out-of-province

An external review committee is being established in Saskatchewan to look at decision made by government's on out-of-province and out-of-country medical care.

Right now, patients have little appeal if the province turns down requests for coverage and that should change in the new year.

Minister Don McMorris describes it as an independent set of eyes on the process.

“Look at the decision made by government and overturn or say that the decision made government was correct,” said McMorris.

On average, about 29 requests for coverage are turned down each year and this will give those patients a chance of an appeal. It will be made up of a wide array of people.

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“Health professionals, lawyers, a base from the community, like patients”, says McMorris.

The government hopes this will in some way speed up the process to just a couple of days, so patients don't have to wait for a lengthy review by the ombudsman.

Other prairie provinces have such committees in place and the government has modeled Saskatchewan's on them.

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