The Canadian Public Health Agency (PHAC) has encouraged audits of companies that oversee the problematic Vaccine Injury Assistance Program (VISP) and asked agent staff to recommend new ways to serve Canadians.
“PHAC is currently accelerating the management of Oxalo and Oxalo's vaccine injury assistance programs, and agents will provide recommendations on alternative delivery models for the program.”
Gauduchon-Campbell revealed these developments in an email this week after the broadcast and release of the global news survey of a three-part survey on VISP in July.
“All options are on the table to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent properly and that money is being spent on helping injured Canadians,” she added.
Asked about the scrutiny of speeding up at a press conference held in Fredericton on Tuesday, Health Minister Michelle told reporters:
The previous deadline for the audit has not been made clear, and the Minister's spokesperson refused to disclose the revised deadline.
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“PHAC audits of Oxaro's work are part of normal practice and are understood from the start of the program as a condition of contribution agreements. However, PHAC accelerated its response based on the initial analysis of the program and the direction from Minister Michel to find a solution to the identified problems.”
Neither the minister nor her staff detailed the meaning of the “alternative delivery model.” These include the government either regaining control of the program itself or hiring a new private company to serve as managers to handle vaccine injury claims.
The 2020 liberal government announced that it would create a VISP to provide financial support to those who were seriously and permanently injured when they embarked on a Covid-19 vaccination campaign.
The government decided to outsource the administration to Ottawa consulting firm Oxalo in 2021, but the Global News Series revealed allegations and complaints by applicants and former workers about the delivery dates over the past four years, despite $54 million in taxpayer dollars being sent to the program.
In response to the revelation, four opposition Conservative lawmakers called for an investigation into the VISP Commons Committee, and the pivotal nonprofit foundation also said an urgent overhaul of the programme.
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A five-month global news survey that urged protests revealed:
Oxalo had received $50 million from taxpayers. $33.7 million was spent on administrative costs, and the injured Canadian received $16.9 million. Health Canada figures released last week show that the company currently receives $54.1 million, spending $36.3 million on administrative costs, and only $18.1 million paid to injured Canadian Anfak and Oxalo, underestimating the number of injuries claims Visp can get. Over 3,317 applications have been submitted – of which over 1,738 are awaiting decisions regarding their claimed injured applicants, they face unreachable VISP case manager revolving doors and say they need an online funding campaign to survive
Some VISP applicants and former staff members said Oxaro was not equipped to fully provide the program's mission to provide “timely and fair” support, raising questions as to why the Canadian Public Health Agency (PHAC) chose this company over other companies, but internal documents suggested a poorly planned plan at the time of launch
Global News obtained internal government documents from the start suggesting inadequate plans, as both PHAC and Oxaro underestimated the number of applications the program gets.
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In an email to Global News on Monday, the VISP spokesman was identified only as “William, Case Escalation Manager” and repeatedly commented and answered by the consulting company, but confirmed a global news report on highly inaccurate billing forecasts.
“The application to the programme has increased to more than 10 times the level originally anticipated,” William said. “The program's processes, procedures and staffing have been adapted to face this unexpected amount of increase.”
“VISP is a program that continuously improves to adapt to changing circumstances and achieves goals,” William added.
An Oxaro spokesperson said the company and PHAC are working closely to assess the program “how to stay agile to handle workloads at hand while respecting budgetary requirements.”
Oxalo also said that monthly invoices sent to the government include documents and details.
When he won a bid and won a VISP contract in 2021, Oxaro vowed to have “people, processes, tools” to implement the initiative in “industry best practices.”
Global News also heard descriptions of workplaces that lack gravity in programs intended to support serious injuries and chronic illnesses.
Some workers said the distraction in the office has improved in recent months, highlighting that they did their best with the resources they were given.
One worker added: “I don't think they really understand the seriousness or relevance of the programs they are contracted with.”
Read more about our reports
Part 1: Canada has established a $50 million vaccine injury program. People who suffer say it's failing
Part 2: “Nothing was ready”: Within Canada's Vaccine Injury Support Program
Part 3: VISP aims to curb vaccine injury lawsuits. People are currently suing in three states
Read more related articles:
Vaccine injury programs elsewhere also face challenges and criticism
Is Visp an independent administrator? This is what some documents say
Tory MPS calls for Health Group investigation and overhaul of vaccine assistance program
Surprisingly visiting the Oxalo office, federal auditor targeted vaccine injury program
“Credit Violation”: Critics Slam Ottawa's vaccine injury program “failed”
Would you like to contact us about this investigation? Email: andrew.mcintosh@corusent.com or carolyn.jarvis@globalnews.com. You can also contact Andrew at (416) 550-4684.