CBC News: Quebec MDs wait for bariatric surgery funds
Monica
Bariatric surgeons in Quebec are pressing the Liberal government to fulfil its promise to better fund the weight-loss procedure that helps prevent death from obesity.
The medical community believes bariatric procedures, including gastric bypass surgery, also can cure Type 2 diabetes among the morbidly obese.
Quebec's Health Ministry estimates some 300,000 Quebecers could be eligible for the radical surgery that many in the medical community say could reduce long-term health care costs.
But the wait list for bariatric surgery in Quebec is more than five years.
The province pledged $29 million last year to triple the number of bariatric surgeries – from 835, to 3000 by 2011 – but doctors who perform the procedure say they've actually operated on fewer patients since that promise was made.
Dr. Nicolas Christou is one of the pioneers of bariatric surgery in Canada, and a firm believer that the procedure is a cost-effective way to save long-term health-care costs related to obesity.
Medical problems related to "hips, diabetes, cancer" are all affected by obesity, said Christou, who practises surgery at the McGill University Health Centre.
"Every year of waiting puts a risk of death for these people."
But Christou says he has operated on fewer patients in 2010 than previous years, because the MUHC reduced the number of bariatric surgeries it offers since the provincial funding hasn't come through.
Christou says he does operate on patients at his private clinic, but many of them come from Ontario, where the government pays for patients to go out of province for surgery if necessary. "I'd rather be doing Quebecers than Ontarians; it's the same cost and surgery," he said.
Surgery helps obesity-related health problems
Lorne Zwirek is a candidate for bariatric surgery, and has been waiting for his number to come up since 2006.
"It is very frustrating to sit and wait, because people say it's not an emergency," said Zwirek.
Zwirek has a body mass index (BMI) of over 40, and takes several types of medication to control health issues – blood pressure, angina, circulation – related to his obesity.
BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. Anyone with a BMI of 30 or greater is considered obese.
"I want to prolong my life, I've tried dieting, I've tried everything," he said.
Gastric bypass surgery is Zwirek's last hope, and he can't wait.
"They're saying as soon as the weight is under control, my blood pressure will be more under control. That will be good."
Sacré-Coeur Hospital has increased the number of gastric bypass surgeries it performs on a yearly basis, from 125 to 300, but only because the hospital has prioritized bariatric procedures over others, said Dr. Pierre Garneau, a surgeon at the hospital.
"It's frustrating," he said. "This is an important operation."
Quebec's Health Ministry did not grant CBC's interview requests.
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/09/24/bariatric-surgery- in-quebec.html
