An Ontario chief says there’s too many road-blocks going up for First Nations people trying to access non-insured health benefits.
This can include some types of hospital care, dental fillings, vision-care and other sorts of non-emergency procedures.
For instance the government recently announced it no longer covers the drug Talwin or dental crowns made of full porcelain.
Stan Beardy is a regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations.
He says the government is following a cost containment strategy which limits what patients can get:
“If it has to do with escorts for remote communities for patients, for elders to travel in to urban centres, the clerk, the receptionist will interpret the policy and in many cases deny the right to an escort.”
Beardy says regional roundtables will soon be held across the country so leaders can brainstorm solutions to the crisis.
Political strategies, legal options and education will all be looked at.
A national roundtable on the issue will take place in March.