thehealthline.ca – Health Services for South West

Health News For South West

Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Safeguarding the Integrity of Ontario's Health Care System

Today, Bill 21, the Safeguarding Health Care Integrity Act, 2014, passed third reading in the Ontario legislature.

This new legislation protects Ontario's current voluntary blood donor model and prohibits payments to individuals for their blood and plasma, including reimbursement of expenses or other forms of compensation.

In addition, the legislation directly responds to a key recommendation made as part of Dr. Jake Thiessen's review of Ontario's cancer drug supply system. This legislation will strengthen the safety of drugs provided to patients in the province's hospitals by allowing for the inspection and licensing of hospital pharmacies in the province by the Ontario College of Pharmacists.

The legislation will also enhance the oversight of regulated health professionals in Ontario by:

Enabling health regulatory colleges to more readily share information with hospitals and public health authorities.
Strengthening existing mandatory reporting requirements in order to help health regulatory colleges identify and respond more quickly and effectively to issues regarding a health professional's practice.

Protecting the current model of voluntary blood donations, strengthening the safety of Ontario hospitals' drug supply system and enhancing the regulation of health professionals support the government's commitment to maintain the integrity of our health care system.

Quick Facts:

Canada is completely self-sufficient in its supply of plasma used for transfusions.
Dr. Thiessen was appointed in April 2013 by the Ontario government to conduct a review in response to the discovery of under-dosing of chemotherapy drugs at four Ontario hospitals and one in New Brunswick.
On Aug. 17, 2013 the government released Dr. Thiessen’s report which laid out 12 recommendations that the government endorsed.

Learn More:

Quotes:

"We are extremely proud of this legislation. Our government has acted decisively to keep Ontario’s voluntary blood donor model intact and make our province’s drug system safer for patients."

— Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

"The College is ideally positioned to assume this new authority. As the regulatory body for the profession of pharmacy in Ontario, whose mandate is to serve and protect the public, the enactment of Bill 21 will extend the Colleges’ authority from community pharmacies and drug preparation premises to include hospital pharmacies – ensuring that all pharmacies in Ontario meet current standards for operation and are accredited by the College."

— Marshall Moleschi, Registrar, Ontario College of Pharmacists

"I am a tainted blood widow. I am grateful that the government is protecting our voluntary blood donation system and heeding one of the key recommendations from the Krever Inquiry."

— Antonia Swann (Smudge), widow of the late James Kreppner, tainted blood victim, and activist

Media Contacts:

David Jensen
Communications and Marketing Division
416-314-6197
media.moh@ontario.ca

For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline
(Toll-free in Ontario only)
1-866-532-3161

Gabe De Roche
Minister’s Office
416-327-4306

Media Line
Toll-free: 1-888-414-4774
GTA: 416-314-6197
media.moh@ontario.ca