Providing public health care dollars to private clinics for surgeries resulting in health inequality: Union
A union says the plan by the Ford government to continue expanding hospital services to include more for-profit clinics will lead to a wider gap in health equit
The head of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) is on a cross-province tour with a senior researcher highlighting data compiled on impacts within health care.
'We believe if the public is more familiar with the details of this [government] policy it will lose popular support, and the government will have to reconsider it,' Michael Hurley, CUPE regional vice president in Ontario, said to media in Sudbury on Thursday.
Michael Hurley of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions discusses research in Sudbury on private clinic surgeries
Michael Hurley of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions discusses research in Sudbury on private clinic surgeries. June 19, 2025 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario
'So, I think we have to wear them down over time, to be honest with you.'
Five years ago, the Conservative government approved plans to allow public health care dollars to go to private for-profit clinics to perform cataract surgeries, stating it would help reduce wait times.
Last year, the Ministry of Health announced that private clinics could also perform hip and knee surgeries covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
The union said data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows that wait times have worsened since 2020. It's also concerned that gaps in health inequality will grow wider.
'Twenty per cent of the population, the wealthiest 20 per cent, actually saw a significant increase in cataract surgery access with the increased funding. Whereas every other demographic group -- the other four quintiles -- saw less access to care. Worst of all among the poorest among us,' said Doug Allan, a CUPE senior researcher.
'For example, we know in Sudbury that there is significant inequality in terms of access to cataract surgery based on your income and that level of marginalization in the community.'
CUPE researcher Doug Allan
CUPE researcher Doug Allan discusses research in Sudbury on private clinic surgeries. June 19, 2025 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario
The union also said many of the private, for-profit clinics upsell or charge user fees.
In fact, after hearing numerous complaints from her constituents in Nickel Belt who were charged add-on fees for extras during their surgeries, the NDP health critic, MPP France Gelinas, issued an open letter to Health Minister Sylvia Jones.
Gelinas said many of the fees charged by private for-profit clinics are in violation of the Canada Health Act.
France Gelinas
France Gelinas, Ontario health critic and Nickel Belt MPP. June 19, 2025 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario
She told CTV News that patients who are in need of cataract surgery are seniors on a fixed income who don't have an extra $600 to $1,200.
'The surgeon is about to put a laser to your eye and says to you that he prefers to use this [special lens]. You don't argue. You're not in a position to bargain, you just pay,' Gelinas said.
'If you are really rich, this is perfect. You will pay to be at the front of the line and you will get really good access. If you're like the rest of us, not very rich, the wait times will be longer in our public hospital.'
In an email to CTV, News a Ministry of Health spokesperson said, 'Ontario is leading the county with some of shortest wait times for critical surgeries and procedures,' adding 32,000 people received 'publicly funded cataract surgery at community surgical and diagnostic centres' last year.
'Our government will continue to deliver more connected, convenient care in every corner of the province, always ensuring that people are accessing the care they need with their OHIP card, never their credit card,' a statement from the ministry reads.
Statement from Ontario Ministry of Health on private clinic surgeries
Statement from Ontario Ministry of Health on private clinic surgeries. June 19, 2025 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario
The email also stated that Ontario has legislated provisions that prohibit a patient from being charged for an OHIP covered service.
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