The NDP is asking the Premier to commit not to privatize health care in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford this week announced that his government intends to fund private, for-profit clinics to help address backlogs for certain surgeries like knee replacements.

NDP Leader Jim Dinn is worried that if Newfoundland and Labrador were to adopt a similar approach it might drive more health care workers from the public system and cause further problems.

He’s urging Premier Andrew Furey not to go a similar route.

Health Minister Tom Osborne says while they are looking at ways to increase access to certain procedures for things like cataract surgeries at private clinics, he wouldn’t say if they’ll go the same route as Ontario for other services.

He says they’ve introduced an initiative by providing hip and knee replacements at secondary hospital sites like St. Anthony and Carbonear to meet national benchmarks.