Health Coalition Invites Hospital CEO to discuss Health Care Privatization
March 11, 2024 – Media Release
The Kingston Health Coalition has invited Dr. Pichora, CEO of the Kingston Health Sciences Center, to a public meeting to discuss the privatization of hospital cataract surgeries.
“The Health Coalition exists to strengthen and expand public, non-profit health care services like Kingston Health Sciences Centres. We are concerned when services are being transferred to for-profit corporations that cost more and hold the potential to pressure patients to pay more for access to services.
The waste of this public money, especially at a time when we have so many seriously underfunded health needs, like primary care and home care, is a matter of significant public concern. We hope that Dr. Pichora will join us in a public meeting to discuss the consequences of the privatization of public health care”, said Ross Sutherland, Co-chair of the Kingston Health Coalition.
“We are natural allies with Kingston’s Hospitals to support public non-profit ways to provide accessible and cost-effective health care solutions. Thirty years of research, studies and practical experience shows that the use of for-profit companies to provide publicly funded health care costs more, reduces access, decreases quality and undercuts democracy”, said Joan Jardin, co-chair of the Kingston Health Coalition. ” An open discussion with Dr. Pichora would help broaden the understanding of these important issues. We hope that he will join us to help make Kingston a leader in providing the best public health care. “
A copy of the letter from the Kingston Health Coalition to Dr. Pichora is attached.
Copy of letter to Dr. Pichora, CEO of Kingston Health Sciences Center.
Dr. David Pichora,
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Kingston Health Sciences Centre,
76 Stuart Street,
Kingston, Ontario,
K7L 2V7.
March 4, 2024.
Dear Doctor Pichora,
We would like to invite you to attend a public meeting with the Kingston Health Coalition to discuss the privatization of cataract surgeries to Focus Eye Centers, and the broader issue of for-profit companies providing essential medical services.
These issues affect the sustainability of our public health care system and our public hospitals. Health care is both vital to our community and people’s lives. It is also our largest provincial budget expense.
It’s important to share our ideas and information so that we can work together to support our community and build a better public non-profit health care system. Once confirmed, we can arrange details for this public meeting.
Thank you for considering our offer,
Joan Jardin Ross Sutherland
Co-Chair, KHC Co-Chair, KHC
Kingston Health Coalition 
My name is Nancy Zikmanis. My phone is 343 333 0455 I live on Delmar Avenue. my email is spirit_connect@yahoo.com So here is my list. Doug Ford should be brought up on charges for killing so many people in hospitals over his reign. He pulled billions from our health care creating this serious issue so he could forward his agenda of private clinics. This man is a criminal in my mind for more than unnecessary deaths in Ontario He also softened the building codes and allowed Developers to build on our wetlands. Curaco homes puts shingles right on plywood in my area. Doug Ford is a short sighted thinker and a murderer by his actions to destroy our health care system and education in Ontario. This latest privatization for cataract surgery is just one of the short sighted, unfair things he is pushing for. He must be stopped by whatever means possible. I watch in my area curaco homes pump out water in dug holes for new homes. No foundation in the world will last under these conditions. My Mother nearly died in hospital and was told she needed to wait three days for a bowel obstruction. Fortunately with me screaming and yelling for assistance a surgeon reexamined her and got the hernia to release her bowel. My neighbour LInda 55 no other health conditions suffered a bowel obstruction and of course she died as there were no surgery times available. A lady working at the Family Thrift Store behind Farmboy was crying one day as the hospital couldn’t get to her brother in time due to lack of funding. Doug Ford should be ashamed at what his policies have done to destroy Ontario and allowing thousands to die in hospitals. He creates an issue to push through his criminal and unfair agenda. He deserves to be in jail.