BRITISH COLUMBIANS’ EYE CARE SACRIFICED FOR PRIVATE INTERESTS
The B.C. Liberals are making provincial eye care standards the lowest in the nation to suit a company that is also a significant donor, says Adrian Dix, New Democrat health critic. “Tomorrow, Health Minister Kevin Falcon will lower eye care standards to satisfy the commercial interests of one company, ignoring the open opposition from the Canadian Institute of the Blind, physicians, and several health professional bodies. Coastal Contacts was ordered by the Court of Appeals this fall to change its business model in accordance to the existing law, or seek legislative changes. While it complies with similar laws in the United States, the company chose to lobby the B.C. Liberals to change provincial regulations, and succeeded,” said Dix. The B.C. Court of Appeal ruled in October that Coastal Contacts was not following regulations requiring a prescription be presented upon purchasing glasses and corrective lenses. The company was given two choices – abide by the law or pursue legislative reform. Coastal Contacts, which has donated close to $20,000 to the B.C. Liberals, decided to lobby for regulatory changes. “The company already complies with US law requiring it to verify every prescription. But instead of requiring Coastal Contacts to do the same in B.C., Health Minister Falcon has opted to change the landscape for them, harming British Columbians in the process,” said Dix. He continued: “Falcon dismisses the mountain of evidence showing how regular eye testing and proper lens fitting is of great value to the public and the health care system. His support, of removing the requirement to have a prescription to buy contacts or glasses, will leave us with the lowest eye care standards in North America. Would it not make more sense to require Coastal Contacts to comply with the existing law?” A range of experts from across the country and continent have been very vocal about how Falcon’s plan to deregulate the industry, which is happening without consultation with doctors and health professionals, will have severe consequences: CNIB, Canadian Diabetes Association, B.C. Association of Optometrists, American Optometric Association. “Former Health Minister Abbott created Advisory Panels under the Health Professions Review Board to review issues of scope of practice. The idea was to provide an independent review of professional issues to guide ministerial action. I agree with that approach, but it appears Minister Falcon does not.” The Health Minister still has time to reconsider these short sighted policy decisions, emphasized Dix. Carole James and the New Democrats have been holding the B.C. Liberals accountable for breaking their word on the HST, and for backtracking on their election promises to protect health care, education, and other vital services.
