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For The Record

HEALTH CARE REALITY CHECK

June 10, 2009
Ministry of Health Services
 
Letters to the Editor
Opinion Editorials

Here are the facts on funding and supports for health care in B.C.:

  • Total projected provincial health spending including the Ministry of Health Services, health authorities and health services delivered by other ministries is $15.72 billion this year, up from $9.36 billion in 2001, an increase of almost 70 per cent.
  • Health spending is expected to reach $17.51 billion in 2011/12
  • British Columbia has an aging population:
    • Today, around 14 per cent of our population is 65 or older;
    • By 2032, fully one-quarter of our population will be over the age of 65.
  • We will spend over $2.25 billion on home and community care in 08/09 for seniors, up $686 million from 2001, an increase of 44%. This includes:
    • Increased spending on residential care and assisted living by more than 37% since 2001, from just over $1.1B then to $1.6B today
    • Increased spending on home care and home support by more than 69% since 2001, from $404M then to over $684M today
  • In 2003, the direct costs of diabetes, including hospitalization, MSP and PharmaCare were just over $1 billion. By 2015, that cost could nearly double.
  • Fully 90 per cent of all new spending in B.C.’s three year fiscal plan is devoted to improving health care.
  • More than $1.2 billion is spent on mental health and addictions treatment in B.C., an increase of more than 42 percent from 2001.
  • Since 2001, the number of community mental health beds has increased by 57 per cent, to about 7,776 beds. 
  • The number of community addiction beds has increased more than 150 per cent since 2003, to more than 2,100.
  • The province’s medical school has doubled the number of undergraduate first-year medical student spaces at UBC from 128 in 2001 to 256 in 2007.
  • The Province is also planning a fourth medical program at UBC Okanagan to improve access to health care across the southern Interior. When these undergraduate expansions are complete, the province expects to graduate 288 MDs every year.
  • The Ministry of Health has worked with the Ministry of Advanced Education to:
    • Add 4,000 new nursing spaces – double the number since 2001;
    • Create 24 new nursing education program at public post-secondary institutions in B.C. since 2001 including 13 degree programs and 11 certificate programs;
    • Produce a record number of nursing graduates, who have received close to 13,000 degrees, diplomas and certificates since 2001.
    • Provide over $15 million in grants for more than 4,300 nursing students needing financial assistance;
    • Provide about $1.87 million in B.C. student loan forgiveness for nursing graduates who work in underserved B.C. communities for three years. We’ve awarded this benefit to more than 690 nurses.
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Letters to the Editor

Nov. 19, 2009
Letter to the Editor
SAVING LIVES THROUGH BREAST CANCER SCREENING
By Ida Chong
Minister of Healthy Living and Sport
Submitted: The Province
Status: Not published
The headline of your recent article by Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet (Delaying mammograms until 50 may save gov't health-care dollars but it will cost women's lives, November 19, 2009) was misleading and creates the impression that guidelines for breast cancer screening in B.C. have changed. [Read More]

Oct. 16, 2009
Letter to the Editor
VIHA FUNDING DECISIONS MADE TO PROTECT CORE HEALTH CARE
By Kevin Falcon
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Times Colonist
Status: Not published
Our government is committed to protecting the core health services on which British Columbians depend. [Read More]

October 1, 2009
Letter to the Editor
B.C. RECOGNIZES IMPORTANT ROLE OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS
By Kevin Falcon
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Canadian Health Care Journal
Status: Published Sept. 18, 2009
On Sept. 18, 2009 the Canadian health care journal, Healthcare Quarterly, published an article based on a recent study by Victoria medical researcher, Dr. Marcus Hollander. The article, entitled "Increasing Value for Money in the Canadian Healthcare System: New Findings on the Contribution of Primary Care Services details the important role family physicians play in benefitting patient care and reducing costs on the health care system. [Read More]

September 5, 2009
Letter to the Editor
PUBLIC BETRAYED BY MRI CUTS
By Kevin Falcon
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Times Colonist
Status: Published Sept. 8, 2009
Contrary to your September 5th editorial, 'Public betrayed by MRI cuts' we fulfilled our February budget and subsequent spring election campaign commitment. [Read More]

June 26, 2009
Letter to the Editor
B.C., MLAs SUPPORT HEALTH CARE NEEDS IN THE INTERIOR
By Kevin Falcon
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Kelowna Daily Courier
Status: Not published
Our government has dedicated record levels of funding to health care, almost a 70 per cent increase in funding since 2001. [Read More]

March 20, 2009
Letter to the Editor
LOWER MAINLAND ACUTE PLANNING UNDERWAY
By George Abbott
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Georgia Straight
Status: Not published
I was absolutely shocked to see NDP MLA Spencer Herbert's comments in his letter to the editor in your March 19th edition. He is being completely dishonest and disrespectful to his constituents regarding a recent meeting I had with him on the future of St. Paul's Hospital. [Read More]

March 5, 2009
Letter to the Editor
PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE IMPROVES PATIENT CARE
By George Abbott
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Alberni Valley Times
Status: Published March 9, 2009
Patient safety is always our first priority, and the pay-for-performance pilot project improves service for patients. In fact, the project was driven by front-line staff at Vancouver Coastal Health to get patients the care they need faster. [Read More]

March 3, 2009
Letter to the Editor
B.C. CONTINUES TO INCREASE HEALTH SPENDING
By George Abbott
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: The Province
Status: Not published
Adrian Dix is simply wrong when he says there have been cuts to health services. Health spending by government this year will be over $15 billion - a 61 per cent increase since we formed government in 2001. [Read More]

December 1, 2008
Letter to the Editor
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY PAYS FOR PUMPS
By George Abbott
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Nanaimo Daily News
Status: Published December 8, 2008
I'd like to respond to Mr. Gough's letter, "Quit wasting money on ads and fund more pumps", dated November 29, 2008. [Read More]

November 28, 2008
Letter to the Editor
IMPROVED REVIEW PROCESS MORE OPEN TO PUBLIC
By George Abbott
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Vancouver Sun
Status: Not Published
I’d like to respond to the November 28th letter by NDP Health Critic Adrian Dix, entitled "Don’t Pull the Plug on the Therapeutics Initiative". [Read More]

November 24, 2008
Letter to the Editor
NO CAP FOR INSULIN PUMP COVERAGE
By George Abbott
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: The Province
Status: Not Published
I would like to responds Ms. Enns’ letter "Needy diabetics", as there seems to be some misunderstanding regarding our recent announcement on new coverage for insulin pumps for children. [Read More]

November 19, 2008
Letter to the Editor
B.C. CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM INSULIN PUMP COVERAGE
By George Abbott
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Nanaimo Daily News
Status: Published November 22, 2008
I’d like the opportunity to respond to the article, "B.C. limits insulin aid for kids", dated November 19, 2008 as it did not accurately represent the full facts surrounding the recent announcement to fund insulin pumps for children. [Read More]

November 10, 2008
Letter to the Editor
BUDGET FOR SENIORS CARE INCREASED SINCE 2001
By George Abbott
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Times Colonist
Status: Not Published
I would like to correct the misinformation in Wendy Robb’s Nov. 10 letter, "Liberals sell off caring for seniors." [Read More]

October 22, 2008
Letter to the Editor
B.C. PROVIDES MORE TIMELY ACCESS
By George Abbott
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Nanaimo Daily News
Status: Published October 27, 2008
I’d like to respond to your October 22nd editorial entitled "Health spending sets dangerous precedent". [Read More]

October 3, 2008
Letter to the Editor
MINISTRY, VIHA IMPROVING ISLAND HEALTH CARE
By George Abbott
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Nanaimo Daily News
Status: Published October 06, 2008
I’d like to respond to a few comments in your October 3rd editorial "Emergency room changes are a good step." [Read More]

Opinion Editorials

January 13, 2009
Opinion Editorial
IMPROVING PRIMARY CARE IS OUR FOCUS IN B.C.
By George Abbott
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Hill Times Newspaper
Status: Not Published
Primary health care is facing significant challenges in British Columbia, Canada and throughout the world. Many patients are searching for family physicians while relying on walk-in clinics and emergency departments for care they could receive at the doctor’s office." [Read More]

July 2, 2008
Opinion Editorial
PROVINCE COMMITTED TO PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
By George Abbott
Minister of Health Services
Submitted: Kelowna Daily Courier
Status: Not Published
It would appear the authors of your June 23 editorial, "Ignoring proven wait–list solutions undermines system," are the ones "ignoring the obvious." [Read More]