Preventing and Addressing Sexual Abuse of Patients April 2015 | Page 20

funding for therapy and counselling CON’T ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE COLLEGE: •G   oing above and beyond the eligibility criteria set out in the RHPA; the College sought the development of regulations under the Medicine Act, 1991 to include additional criteria, under which an applicant could be eligible for funding. These criteria give the PRC flexibility to award applicants funds in situations where there is no Discipline Committee finding. •  he PRC has approved funding for a wide range of therapies and therapists/ T counsellors to support eligible applicants’ ability to select the therapist/ counsellor they believe will best meet their unique needs. This has enabled eligible applicants to seek therapy to address the wide range of harm they suffered (e.g., psychological, physical, spiritual, etc.). In very specific circumstances, costs associated with the therapy have also been funded (e.g., accommodation or travel costs). •  he College decided to go beyond the five-year time frame restriction set out in T the legislation to allow eligible applicants as much time as they need to use the funding they have been awarded. Eligible applicants can receive therapy at any point in time; provided that they haven’t exhausted the funding they have been awarded. •  o ensure applications for funding are reviewed in a timely manner, an T additional Committee member was added to the PRC in 2012. Applications are reviewed within 4-6 weeks of receipt. Measures taken by the CPSO 20