P.E.I. will be see the departure of its only dedicated hematologist this winter.
Dr. Ashish Masurekar, who has been working at the P.E.I. Cancer Treatment Centre, will be leaving the Island in February to pursue work in Ontario.
Masurekar arrived on P.E.I. in May 2017. Prior to this he studied and practiced in the UK, specializing in blood disorders. Blood disorders include leukemia, hemophilia, and anemia.
Masurekar worked with patients at the P.E.I. Cancer Treatment Centre. Another oncologist is on maternity leave and will not return until October.
He is currently the only dedicated hematologist on P.E.I. included on the 2019 list of licensed physicians prepared by the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
A physician search on the college’s website yields a total of six physicians in P.E.I. licensed in the specialty of oncology, but no other dedicated hematologist.
A posting for a medical oncologist or hematologist has been posted on the Department of Health and Wellness website.
The Guardian heard from patients of Masurekar. Although none agreed to be interviewed, some expressed a concern that cancer treatment will increasingly require patients to travel to Nova Scotia.
These patients were all very complementary of the level of care delivered by Masurekar.
The Guardian reached out to Health P.E.I. on Thursday evening for further information. As of Tuesday morning, Health P.E.I. has not commented on the departure.
P.E.I. has been struggling with retention of specialists and health-care professionals for years. Two psychiatrists, key staff at the psychiatry ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, recently left P.E.I.
UPDATE: In a statement issued after this story was published, Health P.E.I. said follow-up care plans are being developed for patients of Dr. Masurekar.
But Health P.E.I. said it does not currently have, nor has it ever had, a complement position for a hematologist.
“There have been times when a medical oncologist has had additional training in hematology or had a sub-specialty in that field of medicine,” the statement said.
“When this was the case, Health PEI was able to provide this additional specialty support; however, the priority area of practice for the physician was medical oncology.”
The statement said the remaining medical oncologist at the P.E.I. Cancer Treatment Centre will be following up with Masurekar's patients, along with a clinical associate and nurse practitioner with training in cancer care.
"Health PEI and the Recruitment and Retention Secretariat continue to focus on attracting medical oncologists to fill both the permanent position left vacant as a result of Dr. Masurekar's departure and the temporary medical oncologist vacancy due to a parental leave. Health PEI is also exploring the opportunity of recruiting a locum until the permanent position can be filled," Health P.E.I. said in a statement.
“Every effort is made to care for patients in-province; however, some may have to travel out of province for care depending on the complexity of their diagnosis. This practice has always been in place.”
