‘20 for 2020’ ... Soberly audit the health ministry with a mind to make adult decisions for the long-term betterment of our health and care

Good morning again, and welcome to day number 10 of our series of “20 for 2020”.  Nothing seems to get voters more piqued then when the topic of health care comes up – it’s definitely a flash point!

No wonder then that when I asked for any thoughts or idea people might have for this series, health care in BC topped the list.

According to one individual ... the health ministry currently consumes a majority of the budget (and it's growing by the minute) and they have poorer quality care and longer wait times to show for it.

Another stated ... the question should be to soberly audit the industry with a mind to make adult decisions for the long-term betterment of our health and care instead of tinkering with trivial and ultimately ineffective bits of regulation or quotas.

While yet another commented that ... it's not in the best interest of the growing number of afflicted and distressed to continue to suffer in wait lines resulting from bureaucratic or regulatory sandbagging.

According to a Vancouver Sun story from last February, the BC Ministry of Health will spend ... about $21 billion in the 2019 / 20 fiscal year, $21.5 billion in 2020/21 and $22.1 billion in 2021 / 22. The 2018 / 2019 budget was $19.8 billion. Those figures don’t include the $10 million allocated to the Ministry of Mental Health and Additions in each of the next three fiscal periods.

The provincial Ministry of Health accounts for nearly 40 percent of BC’s budget, and yet the outcomes for the people of BC are always under question.  A few more MRI’s and hip replacements just aren’t going to cut it.

A full study on where and how over twenty billion dollars a year is being spent needs to be undertaken ... new options and procedures studied ... possible long-term savings to be considered in providing all immunization’s and vaccines at no- charge to the public -- HPV, Shingles, and the flu shot are just three which should be considered.

Just looking at the flu shot as one example; according to a CBC News story the flu vaccine in Ontario has been free for two decades, and vaccination rates "massively increased" from 18 per cent to 42 per cent when it became free. 

According to Ontario-based physician and researcher Dr. Iris Gorfinkel ... "You pay for more clinic visits, emergency room visits and you pay for more hospitalizations.

When we look at the cost efficacy of flu vaccinations, it is the best deal going in health care."

We need to find out where more ‘best deals’ in health care can be found, not just to save money or make it go farther – but to actually provide better health care overall.

That’s it for today ... #10 in our series of “20 for 2020” ... I hope you’ll join us again tomorrow.

Just a reminder that if you have missed any of the previous ideas and suggestions, from “20 for 2020”, you can catch up at the following links:

#1 … those who wish to lead, should acknowledge that government must be about people.

#2 … a review of services provided to areas and regions where much of the provinces revenues are collected from.

#3 … there should be a full review of all license costs and fees, which the provincial government has imposed upon us, to see where and how they are being used

#4 ... we need a permanent fix to the problem of keeping medical practitioners in some of the more rural areas of the province

#5 ... put an immediate end to the Community Benefits Agreement

#6 ... the next BC government must be committed to sustainable resource development

#7 ... government should make treatment for chronic conditions free to residents

#8 … new schools should be designed to incorporate community uses as identified by the areas they are to be located

#9 ... Bids submitted to build future ferries will include not just the lowest submission that meets structural requirements, but will also include the financial benefits of building in BC