46 The Sunday Sup, March 21, 1982

LARRY GROSSMAN
“Kozak was inspiration”
Gov’t labels $900Gs for skin disease

A grant of nearly $1 million will go to the University of Toronto for research and treatment of victims of skin diseases, Health Minister Larry Grossman announced on the weekend.
              The $300,000 grant will make Ontario a key center for research and treatment into chronic skin diseases, including the methods developed by Romanian skin, specialist Pavel Kozak, Grossman said.
              The research program will be headed by Dr. Colle Ramsay, head of dermatology at Toronto General Hospital. Ramsay will ask Kozak, whose work with “Crisco Kids” has made him well-known in Canada, to come to Toronto and will rely heavily on Kozak’s expertise.

 “His work has stimulated interest and concern throughout the health care community and this research effort is certainly a result of this focus,” Grossman said.
               Kozak is “very pleased”at the proposal, said Tony Degabriele, one of the first Canadians to travel to Kozak’s West German clinic to be treated for the rare skin disease epidermolysis bullosa.
              “I spoke to Kozak through an interpreter after the announcement and he said he was  looking forward to getting the offer. He wants his own clinic, but he is willing to compromise with the government, Degabriele said.
              Grossman said treatment such as Kozak’s will be covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan if it is carried out at home by physicians.
              There will no longer be a need for Canadians to go outside the country for treatment,” he said.
              So far 23 Canadians have been treated in Kozak’s West German clinic at a cost of between $15.00 and $130.000 which, OHIP cover.