The province’s Health Minister says he hopes they’re only weeks away from allowing ophthalmologists to to perform cataract surgery in private clinics.

Haggie was questioned in the House of Assembly about the issue on Wednesday, and what was taking so long.

He says the process is well underway, and almost complete. The fee schedule has been agreed upon by the NLMA.

Haggie says the discussion now is around the process of standards and safety, and accrediting private facilities. He says the province doesn’t, and never has had its own mechanism to do that, so between government and the NLMA, they are agreeing what would be a reasonable approach.

Once that is done, they can go back and alter the regulations to allow surgeries to happen in private clinics.

The Health Minister says the limiting factor in the regional health authorities is often operating room time for the ophthalmologists.

He says that’s because of the fact the operating rooms are under demand from a variety of specialties. This transition out, would allow the ophthalmologists in their own building, to set their own schedule.

Haggie says they predict that access will be increased by approximately 4,500 cataracts in the first year. He says it’s precedent setting, and they need to get it right.