Province to Invest in Health Care

The departments of Health and Health Promotion and Protection have confirmed that budgets for hospital-based services will increase in 2009-10. The information has been shared with districts to allow for business planning for the new fiscal year.

All nine health authorities and the IWK Health Centre will receive a four per cent increase to operational or non-wage budgets, as well as full funding for wage and benefit increases. The Department of Health has provided the district health authorities and the IWK with consistent increases in operational funding since 2003-04. In addition to the four per cent increase, another $10 million will be provided for medical equipment.

"Despite challenging economic conditions, investing in our health system is the right thing to do for Nova Scotians," said Health Minister Karen Casey. "We are pleased that we were able to continue to provide new money in this difficult financial climate. We know other provinces have not been so lucky.

"And we are pleased to be providing a specific amount for replacing or adding new equipment because maintaining our facilities is extremely important."

The nine districts receive operational funding for public health and addictions services from the Department of Health Promotion and Protection. The nine districts and the IWK receive all other operational funding from the Department of Health.

"We worked hard this year to protect as much funding as possible for public health and addictions services in the district health authorities," said Health Promotion and Protection Minister Pat Dunn. "We are continuing to invest in quality programs and services to help more Nova Scotians be healthy and safe."

Nova Scotia is one of the only provinces to provide increases to the health system while balancing its provincial budget. District health authorities and the IWK Health Centre received $1.398 billion in 2008-09 for health-care budgets, including wages and benefits.