We will next address the issue of bureaucracy and lack of transparency.
Although my sister and I are both university educated, as a teacher and a business professional, we found the present amount of bureaucracy and the jargon and vernacular of forms and applications often really difficult to discern and pretty daunting. So imagine the numerous people—and as we know the number is pretty staggering—battling cancer who are less educated, have less money, and have limited access to information, due to not having Internet access or just having the misfortune of having a doctor who is not very good. And unfortunately, during our journey throughout cancer, we had to deal with a couple of those doctors. The majority of them were great, but there are always the few who aren't. These people are thus ostracized and are not even aware of the CDR.
ln our hospital there were no pamphlets, and it was only because our oncologist recommended we look specifically into Tarceva personally by writing to the health minister and our MP that we pursued obtaining the drug for Mom. A major concern for most doctors, specifically overworked oncologists like Bryn Pressnail in Barrie, is that there is already too much bureaucracy. Dr. Pressnail is currently the head of oncology in Barrie, where there will soon be a regional cancer centre implemented. He is consumed and involved with the cancer centre and, furthermore, is inundated with patients from all over, with numbers rapidly rising on a daily basis.
According to him, he is also responsible for the requesting of certain drugs for his patients that are extremely effective yet are not covered, such as Tarceva and the like. When these requests are denied, which they often are, he must then write letters and appeals. There are simply not enough hours in a day for one man to perform all of these tasks. He's concerned that the amount of time wrapped up in bureaucratic matters is hindering his ability to care for all of his patients effectively. So basically, as his job scope is broadening, his cancer patients are suffering.
Based on the points that we've just made, l'm sure you'll be able to guess that we think there are some serious inherent flaws with the CDR and its effectiveness. As caregivers to our mother, we've already gone through the heartbreaking. yet common, would-haves, should-haves, and could-haves. Why didn't we just go to Ottawa? We should have done this and could have done that. But no good is going to come of the would-haves and should-haves, so instead, we are here before you now with hopes of not only honouring our mother's memory and her struggles, but also benefiting the future generation that will inevitably have the same struggles.
Thank you for hearing us.