He wanted healthcare in Canada.He sent his medical records. He had a bone infection ( osteomyelitis) of his right femur ( thigh bone). He was hesitant to be treated in Gambia. He might have lost his leg. He wanted to come to Canada for excellent medical care. This was the second request that week from foreign patients seeking care in Canada. There appears to be a growing demand among foreign patients to seek care in Canada.
If Canada were receptive to foreign patients willing and able to pay for their care, our hospitals would have additional income not dependent on government funding.
And since many hospitals operate at a deficit, this extra funding would be welcome.
In fact, of the 135 hospital corporations in Ontario, about 75% are forecasting year-end deficits for 2025-2026 (Globe and Mail, March 2026). The extra funding would be welcome.
It is my understanding that there is no legal prohibition against Canadian hospitals treating foreign patients who pay privately. But in practice, this does not happen. They are constrained by institutional policies. The doctors are not covered by their malpractice insurance. There is political sensitivity about equity and the optics of treating foreign patients while Canadians face long wait lists.
Over the years, RCM Health has faced declines by many Canadian hospitals. There is a total lack of’ willingness to treat foreign private-pay patients except in a few large hospitals. And the care in those centers can be very expensive. Seems to emulate US healthcare pricing.
So, our efforts shifted to organizing his treatment in Europe. RCM Health began a Request For Proposal (RFP) process with several hospital systems in Europe, including Turkey. And Turkey proved to be the low-cost provider. The Government of Turkey, very cleverly, will pay for the patient’s flights from Gambia to Istanbul and back.
He went to Turkey, ironically he wanted Canadian helath services but ended up having his care organized globally by a Canadian case management company, RCM Health.