Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Oct 30/02) - There's no place in Nunavut for private health care, says Health Minister Ed Picco.

The minister made the remark in reference to Piruqsaijit Ltd.'s plans to bring the first computer tomography laser mammography (CTLM) system to be put into use in North America to Rankin Inlet.

Ed Picco: Give it to government - NNSL file photo

The system has the ability to detect breast cancer by identifying tumours at an early stage.

The CTLM system is still awaiting final regulatory approval before in can be used in Canada or the U.S.A.

Piruqsaijit wants to house the system in a private clinic once it's approved.

Picco says he's not interested in supporting Piruqsaijit's plan for a number of reasons.

"First of all, any equipment being brought into Nunavut has to be licensed by the standard operating authorities," says Picco.

"Nunavut's not some backwater where things can be introduced."

The CTLM system was placed in the Humboldt University of Berlin's Charite Hospital this past month.

Charite is the largest university hospital in Europe, treating about 350,000 patients per year.

However, Picco says the system would have little impact in Nunavut.

He says there are about 13,000 women in Nunavut, half of whom are under the age of 21.

"Mammography is only recommended for women over 50 years of age.

"So, we're only looking at 1,700 women in Nunavut who would eligible for this machine."

Picco says six women were sent out for referred diagnostic screenings during the past year in Nunavut.

He says cervical cancer is of far greater concern in Nunavut than breast cancer.

"Nunavut has the highest mortality rate of cervical cancer in the Western world.

"Women are dying of cervical cancer and not one of the six women we sent for screening last year had breast cancer.

"So, where do I put my priorities?"

Picco says if Piruqsaijit is sincere in its claims that it's not interested in making a profit on the CTLM system, it should donate the $400,000 piece of equipment to the government.

"If the Nunavut government owned and operated it, I would send any woman clinically referred for the procedure -- but not if Piruqsaijit gains regulatory approval and opens a private clinic.

"We're not interested in for-profit health care."