The NDP MHA for Labrador West is calling on the health minister to review the province’s Medical Transportation Assistance Program.

Jordan Brown has written Tom Osborne indicating that the program is continuing to fail the people it’s meant to serve.

According to Brown, the program only covers the airfare for one trip and patients are left to carry the cost of food and accommodations when traveling to the island for health care.

Those who need multiple trips to receive medical care in different parts of the province are only reimbursed 50 per cent for any subsequent travel in the remainder of the year.

Brown says anyone who must make multiple trips from Labrador often has to take time off work due to their illness and having to travel long distances, and bearing the cost just adds to the financial hardship.

They also have to provide proof that they actually attended their appointments, adding fees and an administrative burden to patients already under stress.

He wants to see the assistance program reevaluated to make sure that patients can access medical treatment without undue burden.