The federal government will seek to improve the way the vaccine injury support programme provides services and financial support to diseased and vulnerable Canadians, Health Minister Majorie Michel said Monday.
Michelle made a brief statement in New Brunswick. She answered questions for the first time about VISP's performance since the five-month global news survey was aired and released online earlier this month.
“You know, for now, it's a third party offering (VISP) services. I've heard that some people complain about it. We provide our services and track them closely with the third parties, and we try to improve,” Michelle said.
Michelle answered questions from Global News at a press conference in New Brunswick.
In 2020, the liberal government announced that it would create a VISP to provide financial support to those seriously and permanently injured in the vaccine as it embarked on its Covid-19 vaccination campaign, the biggest initiative in Canadian history.
The Canadian Public Health Agency has decided to outsource the programme in 2021 to Ottawa consulting firm Oxalo.
Last week, four Conservative lawmakers called for a Commons Committee investigation into how VISP is managed, saying the pivotal nonprofit foundation needed an urgent overhaul because the effort was too slow.
A five-month survey of Global News 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 $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 these, more than 1,738 are awaiting decisions regarding the claims of injured applicants. (PHAC) chose this company over other companies, but internal documents proposed an inadequate plan from the start.
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When asked at her new Brunswick press conference if the liberal government would renew Oxalo's contract if it expires next year, the health minister replied.
“All the options are on the table. For now, I'll tell you,” Michelle said. “That's my answer to you. I know everything we've heard. It's very, you know, we're tracking it. I can't accept what you've heard about this. And we have all the options on the table.”
“No, people shouldn't wait to really need services or get compensation, but like they say it's more complicated than this.
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Global News has obtained internal documents from the start suggesting inadequate planning, as both the government and consulting firms underestimated the number of applications the program has obtained.
In an email to Global News Monday, a VISP spokesman identified him as “William, Case Escalation Manager.”
“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.”
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“VISP is a program that continuously improves to adapt to changing circumstances and achieves goals,” William added.
“Oxalo and PHAC have worked closely together to assess how programs can maintain agile to handle workloads they have while respecting budgetary requirements,” the company said.
Oxalo also said that monthly invoices to the government include documents and details.
– Anna Mandin's files, global news
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:
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”
Is Visp an independent administrator? This is what some documents say
Vaccine injury programs elsewhere also face challenges and criticism
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.
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