December 16, 1999
(Health and Community Services)

Province's commitment to health care evident in national expenditure report

Canadian Institute for Health Information today released its National Health Expenditure Trends (1975-1999) Report. The report shows health care spending is on the rise in this country, a conclusion also true for Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Our total public and private expenditures on health care in Newfoundland and Labrador have increased every year except one from 1975 to 1999," said Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services. "From 1995 to 1999, our total health dollars per capita has grown by 18 per cent versus the national average of 11 per cent, and our public sector expenditures per capita has grown by 19 per cent versus the eight per cent national average."

The provincial government's direct funding of health care has increased significantly over the years. Today, we spend $323.87 per person on physician services and $112.51 per person on prescription drugs. In 1975, the province spent $46.71 per person on physicians and $5.96 per person on drugs. By far, the most money is spent on hospitals, with $987.36 per person being spent in 1999 versus $199.77 per person in 1975.

Although this province has a smaller private health sector than many other provinces, top expenditure categories are similar, with most money being spent on drugs and other professionals like privately practicing massage therapists, chiropractors, psychologists and denturists.

"This report shows the commitment of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to providing a quality publicly funded, publicly administered health care system to meet the needs of the people of our province," said Minister Aylward.

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

NOTE TO EDITORS: For the full Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) report, see CIHI's web page at www.cihi.ca.

1999 12 16 10:25 a.m.