MLA Macdonald on Interior Health budget shortfall, cuts

Published: July 06, 2009 6:00 PM

On June 11th, the CEO for the Interior Health Authority admitted that IHA is currently experiencing a budget shortfall of $20 million, and that this budget crisis will continue into subsequent years. What does this mean for healthcare in this area? Without an increase in funding, there will have to be further cuts to clinical services and that is going to cause hardship for some.

The Campbell Liberals have shown by their continued underfunding of our health care system that they do not believe, as most of us do, that we have a responsibility as a society to provide quality, accessible and publicly-funded health services to all British Columbians.

Many would also say that the appointment of Kevin Falcon, a strong supporter of Premier Campbell’s privatization agenda, to the position of Minister of Health Services is another clear signal that there will be an even more dramatic decline in health care services.

Over the next nine months, IHA will be cutting $20 million in spending in health services across interior British Columbia. In this community, we have fought to retain every health service that we have, and I am concerned that there will be further losses unless we continue to fight.

Rural British Columbians deserve access to a reasonable level of health services within their own communities. For example, our children should be born close to home. Our seniors should be able live either in their own homes, or in quality facilities, near to family and friends. And we should have access to palliative care so that our last days can be spent where we lived.

All of these services cost money. It is tempting to view these costs simply in terms of dollars and cents, and to move towards the centralization of services. But the provision of comprehensive health services in small communities provides a quality of life to rural residents that makes it possible for us to live here throughout our lives.

It will be up to each one of us to fight for the retention of health services. When a lack of funding effects the level of service provided to you or your family, you need to speak out. You can reach me by calling 1 (866) 870 – 4188 or by emailing Norm.Macdonald.MLA@leg.bc.ca