News

CBC News at Six, CBC-TV

Winnipeg , MB Canada

October 17, 2007

Host, Janet Stewart:  "If you are waiting for knee surgery, or someone you love is, you know those waiting lists are way too long."   

"Two weeks ago here on CBC News at Six, you met a man who was jumping the queue by flying to Cuba . Tonight, we follow up.  Was it worth it?  The story from CBC's Mychaylo Prystupa."

Reporter, Mychaylo Prystupa: " 'Quick and painless.' "  "That's how Winnipeger Dave Kornachuck describes his so-called medical vacation to Cuba ."

Patient, Dave Kornachuck (interviewed on camera):

"This trip is about going down and getting my knee fixed and getting it fixed as soon as possible."

Mychaylo Prystupa:

(video showing Kornachuck practicing tae kwon do) Kornachuck tore his knee ligament in January while sparring in tae kwon do.

"He had a choice, wait 16 months to have surgery here, or go to Cuba and get it done in half the time. Guess where he chose? 

(Cuban music plays with video of Cuban outdoor scenes) He paid firm Choice Medical Services, $3500 for the service.  Still he was a little worried about tropical surgery."  

Dave Kornachuck (interviewed on camera):   " I did think like that well  Cuba is a place where people go to have holidays, and being a socialist country like they are, they might not have the same amenities or the infrastructure that they do here."  

Mychaylo Prsytupa: "But everything he says went smoothly.  Manitoba's Health Minister says that the province has reduced surgical wait times dramatically, especially for knees and hips.  Wait times for those have dropped by half since 2005."

Manitoba Health Minister, Theresa Oswald (interviewed on camera):

"Our focus of course is on bringing down our wait times here in Manitoba so that people need not consider these options if that's not what they want."  

Mychala Prsystupa, reporter:

(video of Kornachuck doing tae kwon do)

"Meanwhile, Kornachuck is back in training, and says the money he paid was worth it to fast track his recovery.  Kornachuck wasn't even supposed to see a surgeon in Manitoba until November, and that was just for an initial consultation.  Now he's going to a tae kwon do tournament -- as a competitor. Mychaylo Prystupa, CBC News,
Winnipeg ."  (end)