Hope for parents of children with cerebral palsy

Photo Agence QMI, Dario Ayala

Elisa Cloutier

Thursday, 29 march 2018 20:45

UPDATE
Thursday, 29 march 2018 20:45

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The minister of Health is said to be open Thursday to reimburse the treatment in the hyperbaric chamber to the parents of children with cerebral palsy who have noticed significant progress after the use of this treatment.

To make these treatments eligible for reimbursement from the RAMQ, they must first be recognized by the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS), which is currently not the case.

The last update on the treatments hyperbaric for children with cerebral palsy dates back to 2007. Even if new studies have been conducted on the topic since then, the government has not responded and has not mandated the organization to reconsider its position.

Pilot project promised by the CAQ

Questioned in the house by the member François Paradis for the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ), the minister Gaétan Barrette has shown to be favorable to revisit the issue Thursday. “I am quite willing to ask the INESSS, since it was already on our backlog of projects,” he said.

In a Thursday press briefing with Dr. Pierre Marois, a physiatrist and specialist in pediatric rehabilitation at the hospital Sainte-Justine, Mr. Paradise is also committed to launch a pilot project allowing 400 children access to these treatments, free of charge, if his party came to power at the next election. Valued at$ 2 Million, the project would lead to annual savings of nearly$ 20 Million in health care various, writes the CAQ.

According to Dr. Marois, treatments in a hyperbaric chamber to improve the condition of children with cerebral palsy, 20 to 40 times more than with traditional treatments. “No treatment on the planet gives results like that for the cerebral palsy “, he insists. By sending a high concentration of oxygen to the brain, oxygen therapy by hyperbaric chamber helps to promote the awareness and intelligence of the child, and this, in just a few days, according to the specialist.

A long battle

To Dr. Marois and the grouping of some 250 parents mobilized for the cause, Thursday’s announcement has had the effect of a balm. “This is a big news. It is a battle that I am conducting for the past 20 years. I find it absolutely indecent, that those families do not have access to the best possible treatment, they are forced to come together, to do fundraising. It doesn’t make sense ! ” has launched the Dr. Marois, which deals 1200 children with cerebral palsy.

At the present time, it will cost you 15 000 $ to 25 000 $ to make the purchase of a hyperbaric chamber, while the rental for a period of forty days is about 2500 $.