Statement by the Ontario Hospital Association on the Appointment of Dr. Jake Thiessen to Review Ontario's Cancer Drug System

TORONTO, April 12, 2013 /CNW/ - The following statement was issued by Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) President and CEO, Pat Campbell:

"Every year, thousands of Ontarians who are fighting cancer rely on their hospitals for chemotherapy. Hospital administrators, and the physicians, nurses and pharmacists who provide these treatments, strive to deliver the best possible care for every patient.

We take the questions raised about the chemotherapy provided to patients at four Ontario hospitals very seriously. That's why the OHA, hospitals, and cancer care providers are working closely with Cancer Care Ontario, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Health Canada, the Ontario College of Pharmacists and the independent expert review panel led by Dr. Jake Thiessen, to establish the facts of this case. Dr. Thiessen is an accomplished health professional, and we welcome his appointment. We will also work with these and other experts to implement any recommendations for improvement that may be identified.

We understand how troubling this issue is to Ontarians. We can assure Ontarians that their hospitals and cancer care providers are taking every possible step to ensure that the chemotherapy they provide is safe and effective. It was an Ontario hospital pharmacy technician who first identified this potential issue with chemotherapy, and hospitals and cancer care providers have - and continue - to reach out to their patients and their families with information. The four hospitals involved are also reviewing their files in an effort to ensure that all affected patients have been identified and contacted. And, all hospitals that provide chemotherapy have confirmed with Cancer Care Ontario that they have reviewed how they manage medication overfill. In these and other ways, Ontario's hospitals and cancer care providers are doing what they can to provide the best possible care every time, and earn the trust of patients and their families on a daily basis.

We all have a responsibility to understand the facts, and we urge all Ontarians to allow Dr. Thiessen to complete his important work."

About the OHA:

The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) is the voice of Ontario's public hospitals.  Founded in 1924, the OHA uses advocacy, education and partnerships to build a strong, innovative and sustainable health care system for all Ontarians.

SOURCE: Ontario Hospital Association

Amy Clark, OHA Public Affairs
416-205-1433; [email protected]