Accord on Health Care Renewal is a Great Start
PROVINCIAL HEALTH COUNCIL--Accord on Health Care Renewal is a Great Start--Op-Ed Piece
by Catherine Randall, Chair of the Provincial Health Council
The Provincial Health Council said the 2003 First Ministers Accord on Health Care Renewal is responding to the needs of Nova Scotians. Citizens of this province told the council what they wanted -- a health care system that is accessible, equitable, affordable, community based and aimed at health promotion and illness prevention. The initiatives of the accord bring us closer to making this vision a reality.
The council was asked by Premier John Hamm to consult with Nova Scotians to develop a list of core clinical services to be provided at the community, regional and provincial levels. The council did consult with Nova Scotians and provided a report of the findings and 12 recommendations to government in November 2000. The recommendations were the result of 32 public meetings held across the province as well as information from questionnaires, community health plans and an advisory committee.
The council also presented its findings and recommendations to Roy Romanow. The council strongly endorses Romanow's recommendation for national cooperation on policy issues and new, dedicated funding. Romanow recommended, and the council believes, that national strategies are needed to resolve major issues.
The recent accord brings forward initiatives that respond to those recommendations. The council is pleased with a few initiatives in particular.
The Health Reform Fund is five years of dedicated funding to be used for primary health, home care and catastrophic drug coverage. In its November 2000 report, a key recommendation by council was that government commit to a long-term plan to ensure stability, continuity and sustainability of health-related services, including steps to ensure that the vision identified by Nova Scotians is made a reality. The reform fund is the first step towards this reality.
We are excited about this fund but remain cautiously optimistic. We hope, but question whether, five years and 16-billion dollars is enough time and money to do the job. In the next five years, will primary care be reformed? If the job is not complete at the end of five years when this reform fund is rolled into the Canada Health Transfer, we fear the focus on primary care will be lost. That said, it's an initiative that the council and Nova Scotians have been waiting for.
Separate from the reform fund, an immediate investment of $2.5 billion will be added to the Canada Health and Social Transfer. We are glad to see the government has recognized the need for immediate additional funding as we begin to change and improve the health care system.
The new accord states that First Ministers will report to their citizens on the state of new initiatives. They will report on the progress achieved in health care reform and about programs and expenditures. The accord also states that the provinces will develop performance indicators to measure progress and to ensure objectives are met. Government will be more accountable and that in turn, Nova Scotians will be more informed.
Nova Scotians have told the council that they are tired of being asked the same questions over and over again and are skeptical that anything will come of their comments and suggestions. Overwhelmingly, Nova Scotians said that the best way to ensure their participation in health related decisions is to listen to what they are saying. Finally, it appears that Nova Scotians' comments have been taken to heart and their needs are being responded to, through the Accord on Health Care Renewal.
The Provincial Health Council is a group of volunteers from across the province appointed by government. The council listens and responds to Nova Scotians on the issues of health status and the health-care system and provides advice to government on the development of comprehensive health policy.