July 19, 1996
(Health)
Health minister discusses operating budget
Health Minister Lloyd Matthews today provided further budgetary details to clarify some misunderstandings regarding the health care budget. "I have stated health care funding was maintained from the last fiscal year, with a slight increase to the department's operating budget. This does not mean that no changes will take place in the health sector as a result of that," said the minister.
Mr. Matthews added that some shifting of resources within the health budget was necessary to reflect the priorities and reform initiatives of the Department of Health. "For example," said Mr. Matthews, "we placed additional resources into community health services and added funding for cardiac surgery. In order to that, we had to shift resources around within the budget."
The minister added that other factors such as inflationary costs, pay equity, and health reform initiatives generally will require individual health boards to make necessary adjustments. "The health system continues to evolve as a result of increasing demands in the community, decreasing reliance on acute care services, as well as declining federal revenues. As such, there are many pressures on the system to respond to this changing environment.
"We have been able to maintain and enhance the funding to the operating budget for the Department of Health because government places the highest priority on health care delivery. The numbers are clear. However, this does not mean each board will have the exact same budget from last year," said Mr. Matthews. Change is an ongoing component of health reform.
Contact: Jill Sooley, Department of Health, (709) 729-1377
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
BUDGET COMPARISONS
1995-96 vs 1996-97
| CATEGORY | 1995/96 | 1996/97 | Net | |
| Expenditures | Budget | Change | ||
| Departmental Salaries and Operating |
$7,558,500 | $6,489,000 | ($1,069,500) | |
| Grants, Allowances and Assistance |
1,047,500 | 161,500 | (886,000) | |
| Medical Transportation Services |
6,340,800 | 6,446,500 | 105,700 | |
| Medical and Drug Subsidy Programs |
55,775,000 | 55,448,700 | (326,300) | |
| M.C.P. | ||||
| - Physician Services - Dental Program - Administration |
138,933,700 5,424,300 3,985,600 |
137,688,600 5,120,000 3,985,100 |
(1,245,100) (304,300) (500) |
|
| Faculty of Medicine | 17,724,000 | 16,727,400 | (996,600) | |
| Institution, Including Pay Equity |
621,102,700 | 624,673,000 | 3,570,300 | |
| Community Health | 43,210,100 | 46,560,200 | 3,350,100 | |
| TOTAL CURRENT ACCOUNT EXPENDITURES |
$901,102,200 | $903,300,000 | $2,197,800 | |
| 1996 07 19 | 11:45 a.m. |
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