University researcher points to billions of dollars lost to private agencies, meant for public
Concern has been raised by a Simon Fraser University researcher that Ontario hospitals lost $9.2-billion to private staffing agencies over 10 years.
Andrew Longhurst brought his report to Niagara Falls today, saying many are worried there's too much dependency on private clinics.
He adds there are ways to stop bleeding public money to the private sector. "We can look at the province of Quebec, which by next year, plans to legislate private staffing agencies out of the publicly funded health care system. And, we can look at BC, which is looking to create a public sector alternative."
He also says Ontario is one of the most underfunded hospital systems in the industrialized world, and that these agencies are exploiting public health care workers and their wages.
He adds this was debated at Queen's park recently. "Clearly this is a really expensive way of staffing hospitals. Many hospitals themselves are trying to reduce their reliance on these private agencies. But, what we really need to see is leadership from the provincial government, like Quebec."
He wants these agencies banned over a 3-year period, accusing them of benefiting from public money.
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