A Richmond surgeon is calling on the provincial government to fund more bariatric procedures in B.C.
Dr. Sharadh Sampath, president of the B.C. Obesity Society and a surgeon at Richmond Hospital, said the surgery can significantly reduce the likelihood of hypertension, diabetes, heart attack, stroke, obstructive sleep apnea, cancer and early fatality among at-risk British Columbians.
Richmond is one of only two hospitals in the province that performs the surgeries, Victoria being the other.
But doctors who perform bariatric surgeries, including Sampath, say a cap of 400 procedures covered by the province annually hinders their ability to help as many patients as they could – with potentially millions of dollars in unnecessary health expenses as a result.
“In a person whose metabolism is disposed to obesity, dieting can do very little to address the problem and this surgery can do an enormous amount,” said Sampath.
“We have 1,400 people on our wait list alone. That translates to a 28-month wait just to see us and an additional year before surgery.”
On a per capita basis, Alberta funds twice as many procedures annually as British Columbia does, Ontario funds triple the number and Quebec five times as many.
Sheila Vataiki, 62, a former resident of Richmond, underwent the surgery at her local hospital in January 2018.
At her maximum, Vataiki, who is five-foot-four-inches tall, weighed 305 pounds. She now weighs 170.
“The healthcare system has spent a ridiculous amount of money on me,” she said.
“I'm a completely different person. I'm off all my drugs. All of them.”
All her obesity-related factors – diabetes, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure and sleep apnea – have disappeared.
“I had been sick and getting sicker for 10 years, but they hadn't been able to offer this to me,” Vataiki added.
“I had to be really, literally on the verge of death before I could get offered this as an option.”
Her medications – not including dispensing fees, emergency room or doctors’ visits – were costing $15,924 per year.
Bariatric surgery, including all the pre-op conditioning and post-op supports, costs $13,000.
“It's irresponsible of the healthcare system not to pay for more of these surgeries,” she added.
Mike Bobenic, 45, suffered strokes and lost vision in one eye due to complications from obesity.
But since entering the bariatric program at Richmond Hospital and undergoing the surgery, he has gone from 400 pounds to 235; from size 54 pants to size 34.
“When you get into the program, it's like winning the lottery…only better, because it's going to save your life,” he said.
An estimated 700,000 British Columbians suffer from obesity, which can lead to hypertension, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative joint disease and cancer, among many other conditions.
In turn, these individuals are more likely to face heart attack, stroke, renal failure, joint replacement, peripheral vascular disease, infertility and cancer.
“A Ministry report in 2011 recommended increasing the number of surgeries in B.C. to 1,000 or 2,000 per year,” said Sampath.
“We have been stuck at 400 cases for several years now with no additional funding. There are both human health and economic benefits that support increased surgical volumes. Most importantly, our patients deserve access to care.”
