More Funding for Patient Care, With Strings Attached
More provincial funding for district health authorities comes with some tight strings attached.
The province's district health authorities and the IWK Health Centre will receive an additional $19.2 million for costs associated with nursing and Nova Scotia's aging population.
In return, the district health authorities and IWK have agreed to accountability measures, in particular a joint review of salary- related costs. The districts must also end the year without a deficit and continue working with the Department of Health to protect patient care.
Funding and accountability decisions were based on information provided this summer as part of the business planning process.
Health Minister Angus MacIsaac said it will be tough to come up with additional dollars, but this is part of government's ongoing commitment to protect patient care.
"In this year's budget, we had already provided multi-year funding, more money for doctors, nurses and other health professionals, and money to help reduce wait lists," the minister said. "The additional funding is for nursing overtime, cancer care, dialysis and high cost drugs -- patient care costs that all provinces are facing."
Mr. MacIsaac said this can only be achieved by reductions elsewhere in government.
The minister said the district business plans will be re- submitted to the Health Department based on final budget numbers. "Districts' and the IWK's final approved business plans must be balanced, and stay balanced. Deficits will not be permitted at year end," he said. "With the additional funding, we also expect them to stay balanced while protecting patient care."
Mr. MacIsaac said he recognizes this will continue to be challenging for districts and the IWK, given continually growing demands for health-care services. He said the Department of Health will work with them to meet these requirements.
Government will conduct value-for-money assessments for those districts concerned that they cannot end the year without a deficit.