More federal money needed to fix health-care challenges, King says
P.E.I. Premier Dennis King is hoping to depart first ministers’ conferences in B.C. with a promise from the federal authorities to spice up the province’s Canada Well being Switch by one other $135 million.
And he is aware of how the province would spend the cash.
“Clearly that may be cash that we might wish to spend to assist recruit and convey extra well being human assets to the province,” he stated in an interview with CBC Information: Compass host Louise Martin.
“We wish to pay extra to these which have been carrying the ball for a very long time when it comes to the supply of health-care service in Prince Edward Island. It might imply extra long-term care beds, extra neighborhood care beds.”
The premiers need the federal authorities to boost the CHT to cowl 35 per cent of health-care prices. They are saying it presently covers about 22 per cent, although Ottawa contends it’s extra like 38 per cent.
One factor is definite, nevertheless, King stated: One thing “drastic” must occur to enhance well being care on P.E.I. and throughout Canada.
We have to have the federal authorities come to the desk with a really vital funding, one which meets the wants of Canadians and Islanders.— P.E.I. Premier Dennis King
“I feel everybody from Nunavut to Prince Edward Island and each province and territory understands that there is super challenges inside our health-care system, lots of which have been additional uncovered by means of the final two and half years of COVID.”
P.E.I. is due to receive about $196 million in well being transfers for the 2022-23 fiscal interval. Elevating the proportion to 35 per cent would imply one other $135 million for P.E.I., King stated.
P.E.I. spends greater than half its yearly finances on well being care, but it surely nonetheless has vital challenges. For instance, there are 23,000 folks on P.E.I. with out a household physician.
New mannequin wanted, King says
“To handle these challenges adequately we have to have the federal authorities come to the desk with a really vital funding, one which meets the wants of Canadians and Islanders,”
King stated cash is just not the one answer. The supply of well being care must be modified, and P.E.I. is transferring in that route with the creation of medical properties and neighbourhoods. However cash could make the answer occur extra rapidly, he stated.
“I feel we’re at an incredible time of transition … The outdated mannequin is just not one we must be making an attempt to repair. We have to create some totally different newer fashions to fulfill the brand new wants of at the moment and tomorrow.”
