New rTMS treatment for depression now covered by OHIP at The Royal

The Royal Ottawa is now the only hospital in the Ottawa-Champlain region offering OHIP-covered repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive alternative for people whose depression hasn't responded to medication or therapy.

Michelle Chapin spent years cycling through medications that didn't work before accessing rTMS through a research program in 2024, weeks after a suicide attempt. Within three weeks, she felt a noticeable shift—a more positive outlook she hadn't experienced before. "I found out that I actually have medication-resistant depression," she said. "I had tried quite a few meds and hadn't seen the type of success I've had with magnets."

RTMS uses magnetic fields to activate specific brain areas involved in mood regulation. Unlike electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which requires general anesthesia and can cause memory issues, rTMS patients remain awake throughout the 30-minute sessions and return to normal activities immediately. The standard protocol involves 30 sessions over six weeks.

Cost has been the biggest barrier. Private rTMS treatment in Ontario can run up to $6,000 for the full protocol. "Without the research programs, I don't know if I would have been able to afford to even do it," Chapin said.

Last year, Ontario announced $5.4 million in funding to expand access to clinical rTMS programs. Dr. Ram Brender, interim clinical lead at The Royal's rTMS Unit, said the coverage removes a painful conversation doctors previously had to have. "It's a resource that's never been on the table for us," said Dr. Mark Kaluzienski, deputy head of mental health at The Ottawa Hospital. "To call a patient and say, 'This is a great idea, but I can't offer it to you,' is obviously difficult for both the patient and the physician."

The program is available to people diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression—those who haven't responded to conventional therapies. Ontario's funding allocation to The Royal and The Ottawa Hospital for the program, and the current waitlist length, have not been disclosed.