There are concerns about wait times for colonoscopies even though new funding's been announced.
Quebec Health Minister Gaetan Barrette recently announced an investment aimed at cutting colonoscopy waiting lists at designated Montreal area hospitals.
Some health experts believe a lot more needs to be done with the possibility of several private colonoscopy clinics closing in 2017.
They add the demand for such procedures will only increase going forward.
CTV's Cindy Sherwin reported one reason is existing wait times for people at risk.
"Secondly, after years of delays, the province's Health ministry plans to officially rule out the FIT program in 2018. That's the Fecal Immuno-chemical Test, an at-home screening test for people of average risk. More widespread use of FIT will mean more symptoms will be detected, which is a good thing, but it will also increase demand for colonoscopies" said Sherwin.
The third issue, as CTV first reported, is that several or all private endoscopy clinics could close in the new year because they'll no longer be able to charge accessory fees.
“These clinics will have to close, and there are approximately 15,000 to 18,000 scopes that are done by the private clinics in the region, so that again will increase the demand for colonoscopy,” Barry Stein from the Colorectal Cancer Association told CTV.
The Health ministry said there's no plan to change the funding model for private endoscopy clinics to ease pressure on the public system.