Tammy O’Brien was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in June of 2024. As her condition worsened, she was sent to Edmonton for Gamma Knife radiosurgery, a highly precise, and lifesaving treatment that is not available in Saskatchewan.
Before her treatment, she contacted Sask. Party Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill’s office seeking financial aid for travel costs and accommodations. She was told that the province only covers the medical procedure itself, and the Ministry then suggested she “try crowdsourcing” to cover her expenses.
“I’m a healthcare worker and I'm unable to work because of a disability. I’m already stretched so thin and needed this treatment to save my life. I had no choice but to leave the province, but I could barely afford it,” said O’Brien.
O’Brien presented a formal petition she created to Premier Scott Moe, calling on him to rethink his government’s treatment of Saskatchewan patients. Patients seeking out-of-province pediatric care and breast cancer treatment are rightly covered for some travel expenses under current government policy, but someone like Tammy with a brain tumor is not.
Tammy has collected 319 signatures on her petition.
“This is the state of healthcare after 20 years of Scott Moe and the Sask. Party,” said Associate Health Shadow Minister Keith Jorgenson. “People with brain tumors are having to fly to Edmonton to get treatment, and the government here is telling them fundraise, like it’s America.
“Saskatchewan people deserve better than this. It’s time for change.”
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