Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

‘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
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interfor Moves Headquarters Out of BC as Forestry Crisis Continues

NDP policies are driving businesses out of B.C., and the forestry industry just suffered yet another calamity. Interfor, a BC company founded more than 60 years ago and now one of the world's largest lumber producers, is moving its headquarters from Burnaby, BC to Atlanta, Georgia. As BC’s forestry sector faces mill closures and mounting uncertainty, this move is another warning sign that the crisis is deepening and conditions are fatal. “This is the NDP’s record: endless job losses with no hope in sight for the forestry sector,” said Ward Stamer, Shadow Minister for Forestry. “Interfor still has three mills in BC which are now in serious jeopardy, and it is likely we will see even more companies pull out of BC. The NDP government is suffocating the forestry industry with high taxes, excessive regulations, and permitting delays, while DRIPA has made it impossible to plan for the future.” “Decisions like this are sadly not surprising given the NDP’s indifference if not hostility tow...
Post a Comment
Read more

Okanagan Farmers Face NDP-Created Water Crisis ~~ BC Conservatives

Okanagan farmers are facing a water crisis as government-imposed restrictions threaten to kill their crops and destroy one of B.C.’s most important agricultural industries. In perhaps the most water-rich province in the country, our farmers have been left high and dry by the NDP government. For nine weeks, Okanagan and Shuswap farmers have proposed solutions, only to be met with NDP foot-dragging. Now forest fires have come to these regions as they are simultaneously reckoning with a water crisis that has been made worse through years of government inaction. Vernon-area farms have lost 70 percent of their water, while Kelowna and Summerland growers face severe restrictions. This situation is unacceptable and cannot continue. Ian Paton, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, said the NDP is once again forcing farmers to pay for its own failure to plan. "Farmers and ranchers must be listened to when decisions affecting their livelihoods are made, and under the NDP, they aren’t," said...
Post a Comment
Read more

NDP Hypocritically Admits Natural Gas Power Was Needed All Along ~~ BC Conservatives

The NDP just got caught buying back the exact kind of power plant it spent years telling British Columbians they didn't need. The NDP government announced today that BC Hydro is purchasing the Island Generation natural gas facility in Campbell River, an admission that its electrification-only energy policy was never realistic. The 275-megawatt plant was originally privately owned yet kept to a minimal backup role under the NDP, operating just 15 days a year on average. Now, with demand outpacing what the NDP's plan can support, the government is spending taxpayer funds on the very gas capacity it once treated as obsolete. "You cannot electrify everything and pretend natural gas doesn't matter," said Larry Neufeld, Shadow Minister for Energy.  "Buying back a gas plant they once wrote off is proof their own plan couldn't keep the lights on. It's a step towards more energy reality, but the government needs to go further and scrap the impending province-w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more