The Honourable Chester Gillan, Minister of Health and Social Services and Seniors said Monday’s Federal Budget will result in $12 million in new money for health care.
Minister Gillan said the federal government is to be commended for listening to calls for increased funding to improve healthcare wait times in the province.
The Minister said a successful lobby by Premier Pat Binns to convince the Federal Government to institute base funding for selected programs, such as the Wait Times Guarantee, means PEI will get $12 Million. Under the former per capita formula, PEI would have received $2.1 Million.
“The Premier’s quiet diplomacy with the federal government has resulted in the province receiving additional money for wait times,” said Minister Gillan. “Premier Binns met with the Prime Minister just a few weeks ago and the topic of base funding was at the top of the agenda. I believe the $12 Million for wait times is a direct result of that meeting.”
The Minister added, “Criteria must be met in order to access these funds and we anticipate that we will be able to meet that criteria by developing proposals and engaging in further discussions with the federal government.”
The Department of Health is embarking on a process to determine which key areas will initially be focussed on to improve wait times. Over the coming weeks, further details will be released on how the health department will utilize new funding to improve wait times.