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Many of you may have seen this story yesterday, about a new GTA-based 'service' offering at-home COVID swabs for $400 (not a typo). Many, many questions need to be asked here.
Some thoughts below.
1/n https://www.blogto.com/city/2020/09/covid-19-test-home-toronto/
Some thoughts below.
1/n https://www.blogto.com/city/2020/09/covid-19-test-home-toronto/
Public health guidance has become increasingly clear. Testing needs to be prioritized for symptomatic people, or those who are case contacts. If you can mentally stomach putting aside the $400 charge for a moment, guess who this service is allocating testing resources too.
2/n
2/n
This company says the lab they are using is accredited. What lab? It is a PHO lab? LifeLabs? A hospital lab? To what extent are they compromising our ongoing testing needs by working entirely outside of public health planning?
3/n
3/n
Nowhere in Ontario do have a limitless supply of re-agents for testing. By prioritizing asymptomatic, wealthy patients, what are they doing to that supply? What does this say about our philosophical approach & who matters in our pandemic response?
4/n
4/n
As the 2nd wave worsens, an increasing number of healthcare workers will be diagnosed & self-isolate. If this service grows, our workforce will be hit yet again, as easy money will drain MDs, RNs etc to those with $400 to spend on a single test.
5/n
5/n
Private profits & public dumping.
Cream skimming & lemon dropping.
Privatizing profits & socializing risks.
When we speak to the dangers of privately financed healthcare, it is often in metaphors or in macro terms.
Here it is, as stark #PandemicProfiteering, for all to see.
Cream skimming & lemon dropping.
Privatizing profits & socializing risks.
When we speak to the dangers of privately financed healthcare, it is often in metaphors or in macro terms.
Here it is, as stark #PandemicProfiteering, for all to see.
This quote from the blogTO piece is an impressive piece of mental gymnastics.
If caring for vulnerable people, disproportionately racialized & low-income like my patients, is a stated rationale, do better.
Its ok to be angry about this, because its maddening.
7/7
If caring for vulnerable people, disproportionately racialized & low-income like my patients, is a stated rationale, do better.
Its ok to be angry about this, because its maddening.
7/7
@NaheedD did a nice job speaking to many of these issues this morning with @supriyadwivedi. https://omny.fm/shows/am640-the-morning-show/todays-show-at-home-covid-19-tests-peel-district-t?t=49s
