The Prince Albert Victoria Hospital (file photo/paNOW staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Health care

Ketamine clinic re-opens at Victoria Hospital

Nov 13, 2019 | 5:00 PM

After a month of uncertainty, patients of the late Dr. Hussain’s ketamine clinic are being allowed to continue receiving transfusions of the drug, while the Victoria Hospital pushes the province to formally back the treatment.

Speaking about the chances of the province fully supporting the clinic, Dr. Randy Friesen, the Area Chief of Staff for the Northeast, with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, told paNOW ” there is probably a little element of risk in terms of the speed with which we’ve gone ahead.

“But when it comes to the safety of our patients we felt quite strongly, based on quite solid evidence both from patients and other caregivers who have been involved with ketamine that it was probably going to be a significant safety issue in terms of life and health for some of our patients if we just abruptly stopped.”

For now, the clinic is not accepting any new patients. The existing sixty people in the program will be assessed by a psychiatrist via Telehealth, then the drug with be administered by a doctor at the hospital.

“Because we are so very short on psychiatrists in our northeast area, the actual injections are being performed by a physician who is trained in family and emergency medicine but has a lot of experience giving ketamine for other purposes,” Friesen explained.

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Meanwhile, the hospital has brought in an outside expert to complete a full study of Dr. Hussain’s ketamine program. Data is being gathered on the effectiveness of the treatment and what kinds of patients it has worked for.

“We have to get a bigger picture, a balanced picture. We don’t have evidence of any harm at this point, but we just want to be sure before we make a pitch for improving access or even continuing access. We want to be able to make a strong case for it,” Friesen said.

Currently using ketamine as a treatment for depression is an uninsured service in Saskatchewan. At the only other clinic in the province where the therapy is offered, the cost is $500 per treatment. The Victoria Hospital continues to offer the service to Dr. Hussain’s former patients for free.

Pending the results of the study, if the hospital is able to convince the province to fund the treatment, it could have far-reaching implications.

“If it is as good as it’s claimed to be it shouldn’t be limited to ‘you have to come to P.A. to get it,’” Friesen said.

The Ministry of Health confirmed with paNOW in an email that it had committed resources to the Saskatchewan Health Authority to assist in recruiting psychiatrists to ensure access to services. It said the Saskatchewan Health Authority was working with Dr. Hussain’s patients to assess their care needs and ensure ongoing appropriate care.

Meanwhile the Saskatchewan Health Authority told paNOW in an email that it and a care team were working with both Prince Albert and Saskatoon based psychiatrists to ensure patients in the ketamine clinic are supported.

alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom