January 13, 1999
(Health and Community Services)

Premier Brian Tobin and Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services, announced today a $20 million investment for the health budget to strengthen the provincial health system and address financial operating pressures. Fifteen million dollars will focus on regional board deficit reduction and other priority service areas. In addition, $5 million has been allocated for priority capital equipment needs such as surgical, emergency, and other equipment.

During the past two years, Premier Tobin and Minister Aylward have made repeated representations to the federal government and in fact have led the country in the lobby to reinvest additional funding into the health system.

"Today we are continuing to take a leadership role to ensure continued quality health services for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador," said the premier. "This additional $20 million should be a strong signal to the federal government of our commitment to invest new anticipated federal CHST funding into the health system."

Minister Aylward said: "Since I became minister of this department in May 1997 there has been an additional $47 million added to the operating budget of our health system. We appreciate the challenges in the health system of our province and today we are taking action. We thank our boards and their staff for their fine work and commitment and we will be meeting with them over the next two months to discuss the allocation of this additional funding which we believe will help strengthen the health system. We are committed to maintaining a sound publicly funded health system in our province."

Media contact: Glenn Bruce, Director of Communications, (709) 729-1377.

1999 01 13 4:35 p.m.