What is the Neuromodulation Coalition?
WHO is involved with the Neuromodulation Coalition?
The Neuromodulation Coalition is a group of patients and clinicians who have come together to try and move this important access agenda forward. The Coalition is stepping up their activities to bring increased visibility and attention to this group of “forgotten patients”.
The Coalition is made up of a group individuals including:
- Patients
- Physicians from across the province
- Patient advocacy groups (MS Society of Canada and the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation Canada)
- Hospital administrators
WHY is this issue important?
Due to lack of adequate funding and institutional infrastructure in Ontario, access to and use of neuromodulation has been inconsistent for several years. In comparison to other provinces, the number of actual implants per million of population in Ontario is markedly less. Access is declining as programs are discontinued.
As a result, rather than being a leader in treatment of chronic pain, Parkinson’s, MS and other diseases through neuromodulation, Ontario is actually falling further behind.
The government’s Medical Advisory Secretariat published four Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee (OHTAC) reports in March of 2005 recommending access to these therapies. There are similar reports in UK, France, US and Australia further substantiating the need for improved access.
Data also shows:
Sites that currently have fixed budgets are finding that year after year, more of these budgets are being consumed by follow up checks, battery replacements and other services to the existing pool of neuromodulation patients, all leading to:
- Reactive crisis interventions in ERs; often with untrained staff
- Reallocated budgets for these unplanned and unnecessary emergency visits
- Inadequate resources for new patient implants
- Inequity and queue jumping for patients who can fund privately or influence access