Standing Together for Better Health Care
Nova Scotia health care, labour and professional organizations teamed up with Health Minister Jane Purves and Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Health Promotion, today, Feb.3, to urge Ottawa to properly fund health care.
"Nova Scotia speaks with one voice on improving health care, from Yarmouth to Sydney Mines," said Ms. Purves. "If Ottawa sends money to Nova Scotia for health, our government will spend it on health, to put more doctors and nurses on the front lines, reduce waiting lists and provide better care for our seniors."
Janet Hazelton, president of the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union, said Nova Scotians are calling on the prime minister to demonstrate leadership by providing the funds necessary to sustain publicly funded health care.
"Increased funding and accountability are essential if we are to have long term stability -- a stable system that enables our nurses to work in healthy environments. This will go a long way in the recruitment and retention of nurses, and other health care providers. These provisions should allow for better health outcomes for all Nova Scotians," said Ms. Hazelton.
Since 1993, the federal government has cut $1 billion in transfers to Nova Scotia for health, post-secondary education and social services. Despite new federal funding announced in 2000, Ottawa contributes only 14 cents out of every dollar spent on health, with provinces covering the remaining costs.
"Quite clearly, we support the need for increased public spending for health care but we are equally adamant that public funding must be invested in non-profit, health-care services," said Rick Clarke, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour.
At this week's First Ministers' meeting, Nova Scotia will urge the federal government to immediately restore health care funding to 18 per cent and to provide predictable, increased funding over the next several years. Last October, Premier John Hamm announced stable, increased funding for the province's nine district health authorities and the IWK Health Centre.
Bob Cook, president of the Nova Scotia Association of Health Organizations, said the health system requires funding which is both sustainable and predictable if it is to meet the needs and expectations of Nova Scotians.
"The province has taken a big step forward in building this stability but we need the federal government to do its part as well. We need Mr. Chretien to commit unequivocally to adequately fund our health programs now, and in the future," said Mr. Cook.
The Nova Scotia government also released an overview of its priorities for better health care. It focuses on putting more doctors, nurses and other health professionals on the front lines, improving access through shorter wait lists, protecting seniors and primary care and encouraging healthier lifestyles.
"Health prevention and wellness initiatives -- such as Active, Kids, Healthy Kids and the tobacco strategy -- will help to ease the burden on our health-care system," said Mr. MacDonald. "It will take some time, perhaps a decade or more, before we begin to see the real impact of these initiatives on bottom-line spending for health care, and the overall health of Nova Scotians. That's why we need continued funding from Ottawa to sustain and expand our community-based services and provincial wellness initiatives."
The priorities overview also stresses the importance of accountability.
"Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is spent, " said Ms. Purves. "We expect accountability for the funds we give to other organizations and support the same principle being applied to our government."