The Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation is determined to move ahead with purchasing the genetic sequencing equipment that would be paid for by donations to The Give. It’s calling on donors to pressure their M-L-A’s to persuade the provincial government to change its mind about cancelling the purchase.
Foundation President and C-E-O Jeff McAloon says the donors have a voice and should use it. Neurosurgeon Dr. Brian Wheelock, who is a donor himself, says the wish of the donors to The Give should not just be cast aside.
McAloon argues to send testing to the privately owned Atlantic Cancer Research Institute will cost taxpayers an additional 97 thousand dollars a year because each test done at the Cancer Research Institute costs 900 dollars compared to 468 dollars at the Regional Hospital.
Dr. Terry Comeau, who returned to Saint John from the U.S. where he was practicing medicine, says genetic sequencing is the new standard of care when it comes to cancer treatment and he gets annoyed by what he calls these foolish discussions.
Chief of Staff Dr. John Dornan calls it a mischaracterisation to say the Regional Hospital is sending truckloads of samples to the Mayo Clinic in the U.S. for testing. It happens on occasion but no more so than at other hospitals. Provincial Health Minister Victor Boudreau told the Legislature if samples are being sent to the U.S., why not to Moncton.
The Foundation adds genetic sequencing equipment would be part of the Personalised Medicine Programme the Regional Hospital has been building since before 2005 and it has the only board certified clinical molecular geneticist in the province.
