Business Planning Process with District Health Authorities Underway

HEALTH--Business Planning Process with District Health Authorities Underway

District health authorities now have their preliminary budget targets for 2001/2002 as part of the annual business planning process. Information sharing will continue between the districts and department, leading to business-plan and budget decisions later this winter.

"I have every confidence in the new district health authorities as they move forward with their planning for next year," said Health Minister Jamie Muir. "The calibre of individuals working in the districts will ensure quality health care continues to be provided to their communities."

Preliminary targets presume the same level of funding as last year. As well, the department will assume $35 million in deficits built up before the district health authorities were in place.

"The targets are for discussion, but make no mistake, difficult decisions will need to be made," said the minister. "The department is following the same business planning process as we did last year and in the same type of fiscal environment.

"We have to control costs in a health-care system that doubles its spending every 15 years. At this rate, future generations won't be able to afford quality health care. This government won't allow that to happen.

At the current rate of growth, health spending would consume all provincial spending within nine years.

There are nine district health authorities across the province. They replaced the former regional health-board structure on Jan. 1. Two-thirds of each authority's memberships are based on nominations from the community.