BILL NO. 252

(as introduced)

1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
1 Charles III, 2022

 

Private Member's Bill

 

Improved Cancer Care Act

 

Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin
Cumberland North

First Reading: November 3, 2022

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

 

An Act to Improve Access
to Cancer Care Treatments

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 This Act may be cited as the Improved Cancer Care Act.

2 The purpose of this Act is to ensure that all residents of the Province have improved access to cancer care treatments.

3 In this Act,

(a) "cancer care centre" means a cancer care centre established under Section 4;

(b) "nurse practitioner" has the same meaning as in the Nursing Act;

(c) "regional hospital" means a hospital designated as such by the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

4 (1) Subject to Section 6, the Minister shall establish a cancer care centre in each regional hospital that provides virtual and in-person care pursuant to subsection (2).

(2) A cancer care centre must

(a) provide screening and early detection clinics;

(b) provide cancer assessments, diagnoses and evaluations;

(c) offer systemic chemotherapy treatments;

(d) employ a nurse practitioner who specializes in cancer care and who can provide physical examinations; and

(e) have access to oncologists and other cancer specialists who will provide virtual appointments and collaborate with the nurse practitioner referred to in clause (d).

5 The Minister shall uphold the Canada Health Act principle of portability and ensure that residents living close to a border with a neighbouring province can receive cancer treatments such as radiation in that neighbouring province, with the consent of that neighbouring province, if it is closer in distance to what is available in the Province.

6 The money required for the purpose of this Act must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.

 

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