Health and Social Services Minister Mildred Dover advised today that the base budget for Health and Social Services will increase by $14.6 million in 1999-2000 to ensure that quality health services are there for Islanders when they need them.
In addition, Government will establish a $10 million Health Stabilization Fund to stabilize funding and enhance services at the front line of health care, of which $3 million will be invested this year to hire more nurses and front line workers.
"Today we are taking concrete action to relieve pressure on front line services," said Minister Dover. "We are also making strategic investments in critical areas such as cancer services, addiction services, provincial drug programs, and chronic illness care to ensure Islanders receive quality services when they need them most," said the minister.
In addition to funding for front line services, highlights of the Health and Social Services budget include an investment of $3.8 million in Addiction Services to build a state-of-the-art Addictions facility and expand addiction services in communities throughout the province.
A $2 million Health Research Fund will be established to address increasing chronic illness such as asthma, cancer and diabetes.
Funding for provincial drug cost assistance programs will be increased by $1.6 million. The new funds will be used to help with the cost of four new multiple sclerosis drugs, and establish the new PEI Family Health Benefit to assist lower income families with the cost of prescription drugs.
Cancer services will be enhanced through a new $2.4 million Provincial Cancer Centre, and increased operational funding of $600,000 per year. With the addition of the new facility, new equipment and specialized staff, Islanders will be able to receive radiation oncology services at home in their own province. The care and comfort of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy treatment will also be improved at the new facility which is scheduled to open in June 1999.
New funding of more than $500,000 was provided for mammography screening services in fiscal 1998-1999 and will continue in future years to reduce incidence and deaths from breast cancer among Island women.
Funding of $1.6 million has been allocated for planning and development of the new East Prince Health Facility in the coming year.
An additional $1 million will be allocated for capital repairs and upgrades to Island health facilities throughout the province.
Funding for private nursing homes, community care facilities, and community health organizations will be increased by $900,000 this year, in addition to similar increases received by these organizations in 1998-1999.
Minister Dover advised that during the past few years, people in the health system have worked quietly to maintain quality in care and service while facing increasing demands and diminishing resources.
"The best reflection of their efforts is the maximum three-year accreditation award granted to each of the five health regions last year," she said. "However, our nurses and front line staff are overworked and they are tired. And today we are pleased to demonstrate our commitment to them, and to Islanders, by allocating the largest budget increase ever to health, and by bringing our health budget to the highest level it's ever been."
BACKGROUNDER
BUDGET 1999, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
$5.5 MILLION ALLOCATED IN 99/00 FOR ADDITIONAL FRONT LINE STAFF
An additional $5.5 million has been allocated in 99-00 to hire more nurses and front line staff.
Investments of $3 million will come from a new $10 million Health Stabilization Fund established to stabilize health care funding and enhance front line services over a three-year period.
Funding of $2.5 million has also been allocated within the existing departmental budget for: 35.3 full-time equivalent Front Line Staff positions created in 98-99 ($1.5 million); 21.1 full-time equivalent Front Line Staff positions to be created in 99-00 ($825,000); 11 full-time Front Line Staff Support positions to be created in 99-00 ($325,000).
Minister Dover advised that the new fund reflects Government's commitment to front line staff and services. "With the support of our caring and committed staff, we were able to maintain the level and quality of services in Prince Edward Island during the past three years," she said, "The new injection of funds is intended to stabilize health care funding, enhance access to services, and contribute to positive working environments," said the minister.
NEW $2 MILLION HEALTH RESEARCH FUND TO ADDRESS INCREASING CHRONIC ILLNESSES
A new $2 million Health Research Fund has been established to address increasing chronic illness such as asthma, cancer and diabetes.
Evidence suggests that Prince Edward Island has some of the highest rates of asthma and cancer in the country. A growing aging population is expected to result in increasingly high incidence in diabetes and the many related illnesses associated with it, such as kidney disease.
"Through the new Research Fund, we hope to work closely with our partners to impact the rising cost and quality of life issues associated with increasing chronic illness," said the minister.
ADDITIONAL $1.6 MILLION FOR DRUG COST ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
An additional $1.6 million will be invested in fiscal 1999-2000 to assist Islanders with the high cost of prescription drugs.
Multiple Sclerosis Drug Cost Assistance Plan:
Government will invest an additional $800,000 in 1999-2000 to assist with the cost of four new Multiple Sclerosis medications, Betaseron, Copaxone, Rebif, and Avonex.
"While the new medications are not a cure for MS, they have shown real promise in the treatment of remitting-relapsing MS," said Minister Dover. "They also give us hope that better treatments can be found for this devastating disease which affects people in their younger years," she said.
Family Health Benefit:
Effective immediately, the new Family Health Benefit will provide assistance to lower income families with the cost of prescription medications. Families eligible are those with children under the age of 18 years and total net household annual incomes of less than $20,000. The Family Health Benefit is a provincial reinvestment of $800,000 made available through the National Child Benefit program.
Minister Dover advised that through the new program, the average eligible family should save one-third on their medication costs each year. "Families with high drug costs will benefit considerably more," she said, "and while they will be required to pay a co-pay of $13 per prescription, this assistance will be a real benefit to families that was not there before."
Seniors Drug Programs:
Spending on seniors' drugs increased by more than $1 million in 1998-1999 to address the increasing cost of drugs, and the growing number of seniors using the plan.
"Seniors have repeatedly expressed their concerns to Government regarding the high cost of prescription drugs. We are committed to assisting seniors as much as we possibly can in this priority area," said the minister.
Through the provincial Drug Cost Assistance Plan (DCAP), all Island seniors are eligible to receive coverage for approved medications once they reach the age of 65. In the past five years, program expenditures have increased by more than 60 per cent. The number of prescriptions filled has increased by more than 30 per cent.
$3.8 MILLION TO CONSTRUCT A MODERN ADDICTIONS FACILITY AND EXPAND ADDICTION SERVICES PROVINCE-WIDE
Funding of $3.2 million will be provided in the coming year to construct a modern Provincial Addictions Centre at the site of the former provincial orphanage in Mount Herbert.
The Centre will offer inpatient detoxification and rehab services to all Island residents. It will house special areas and programs for women, youth and problem gamblers. Relapse prevention, family and follow-up programs will also be provided, as well as outpatient programs for Queens Region residents.
An additional $650,000 will be allocated in 1999-2000 and following years to expand outpatient addictions programs at the existing Addictions facilities in Souris and Summerside, as well as at sites in West Prince and Southern Kings. New programs will be introduced for women, youth, and problem gamblers.
"Through this new funding, Government is demonstrating its commitment to addressing one of the most serious health and social issues facing Islanders today," said the minister. "I am pleased that services to treat addictions illnesses are finally receiving funding levels comparable with other health services," she said.
$1.6 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW EAST PRINCE HEALTH FACILITY
Funding of $1.6 million will be available this fiscal year for planning and development of the new East Prince Health facility.
A major study was completed in 1998-1999 to develop the broad role of the new facility. A Master/Functional Program will be completed in 1999-2000 to define the range and scope of services in the new facility. Construction is expected to begin in April 2000.
CANCER SERVICES RECEIVE MAJOR BOOST OF $4 MILLION IN TWO-YEAR PERIOD
Cancer services in the province are being enhanced through a major investment of $4 million over a two-year period.
Radiation and medical oncology services will be enhanced through a new $2.4 million Provincial Cancer Centre scheduled to open at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in June 1999.
"With the addition of the new facility, new equipment and specialized staff, Islanders will be able to receive radiation oncology services at home in their own province," advised the minister. "Medical oncology services will also be relocated to the new Centre to improve the care and comfort of patients receiving chemotherapy treatment," she said.
New funding of $600,000 will be made available in 1999-2000, and future years, for salaries and operating expenses. A radiation oncologist and medical physicist have been recruited and are now on staff. Additional support staff will join them soon.
New funding of $500,000 was provided for new mammography screening services in fiscal 1998-1999, and will continue in future years to reduce incidence and deaths from breast cancer among Island women.
Minister Dover advised that access to mammography services in the province has increased substantially during the past two years.
"Through government funding for the new breast health screening program, along with generous community support for two new mammography units," she said, "the number of mammograms performed in the province has increased from 7,123 in 1996-1997 to more than 11,000 mammograms in 1998-1999."
$1 MILLION FOR CAPITAL REPAIRS AND UPGRADES TO HEALTH FACILITIES
Government will allocate $1 million in 1999-2000 to fund capital repair and upgrades to Island health facilities.
The new money will be used for upgrades to health care facilities throughout the province, such as needed window, roofing and flooring replacement.
NEW FUNDING OF $900,000 FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICE PARTNERS
Additional investments have been identified again this year to support the important role of health service delivery partners in the community.
Last year, Government allocated an additional $600,000 to the Community Care Facility and Private Nursing Home sector to help meet increasingly complex care needs. This year, an additional $625,000 has been allocated, for a total increase of more than $1.2 million to this sector over a two-year period.
Government also increased funding in 1998-1999 to non-governmental community-based organizations operating in the health and social services field by $250,000, or 5.7%. These organizations will receive an additional $250,000 increase in fiscal 1999-2000.
"Our community partners have an increasingly important role in meeting the health needs of Islanders in the community, and Government is committed to helping them build on this success," said the minister.
FUNDING FOR PHYSICIAN SERVICES INCREASED
Since the signing of a master agreement in 1998, Government has added more than $2.1 million to the base budget for physician services. The new money is being used to fund negotiated increases in the physician contract, and to ensure 24-hour physician coverage in all hospital emergency rooms, and at all government and private nursing homes.
Twelve physicians commenced new practices in Prince Edward Island over the past year. Four of these physicians have provided replacement services for departing physicians. Two physicians moved into new positions added to the provincial complement. Six physicians filled positions that were vacant for an extended period of time.
"In addition to physician recruitment, we are achieving other successes in assisting Islanders to access physician services," said the minister. "For example, since the Provincial Patient Registry was established in 1998, it has been successful in assisting 896 patients to find a family doctor."