Health and Community Services
March 26, 2009A Strong and Accountable Health Care System �
Government Provides Robust Response to Cameron Inquiry and Task Force
Recommendations
With a $21.4 million investment in Budget 2009, the Williams Government is
taking further steps to enhance laboratory services, cancer care and health
information management in the province, bringing its total investment since 2007
to more than $75 million. Budget 2009 responds directly to the Commission
of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing Report and the Task Force on Adverse
Health Events Report and builds upon commitments to strengthen the quality of
care provided in Newfoundland and Labrador.
"Our government has made significant investments in quality improvement
initiatives, laboratory medicine and cancer treatment," said the Honourable Ross
Wiseman, Minister Health and Community Services. "Budget 2009 further
strengthens our commitment to building a strong foundation for our health care
system and enhancing the quality of care that is available in our province."
Budget 2009 investments include:
$5 million to assist in funding various initiatives including new
positions such as patient navigator positions and a provincial director
of pathology and laboratory services;
$2.7 million to implement recommendations identified in the Task
Force on Adverse Health Events report including:
The establishment of
a provincial co-ordinating office to manage adverse event
reporting;
Hiring of five
patient safety officers and five physician champions throughout
the province; and,
Research and training
initiatives.
$3 million to expand the adverse events occurrence reporting system
across the province;
$2.3 million for quality improvement initiatives, which includes
planning for a provincial accreditation program and the addition of 17
new laboratory and quality management personnel; and,
$3 million for laboratory equipment in the province and $3.2 million
for a radiation treatment machine at the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer
Centre, announced as part of the $50 million investment in medical
equipment in Budget 2009.
$1 million in funding for the development of the electronic patient
record, a project led by the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health
Information;
$221,500 in additional resources for Eastern Health in support of the
provincial cancer registry. The registry is an important component
designed to track information on patients who receive a cancer
diagnosis;
$500,000 for planning for a Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
scanner; and,
$504,000 for the cancer prescription drugs Nexavar and Xeloda � to treat
liver and colorectal cancer �
will be added to the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug
Program.
"Budget 2009 investments mark the next steps our government is taking to
enhance our provincial health care system," said Minister Wiseman. "We recognize
that the recommendations from Madame Justice Cameron not only assist our
province but also benefit other jurisdictions. Our investments will enhance the
quality of service provided and will assist in charting a course for continued
improvements in our health care system."
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Media contact:
Ronalda Walsh
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-1741
ronaldawalsh@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Building a Stronger Health Care System
Budget 2009 provides an additional $21.4 million investment to further
enhance laboratory services, cancer care and health information management. This
investment builds on $54.3 million in investments made in fiscal years 2007-08
and through 2008-09 as highlighted below:
$12.7 million invested in
the development of electronic health and patient records across the
province;
$12.6 million to purchase an array of new medical equipment to treat
cancer and other diseases such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and
Computerized Tomography (CT) scanners;
$10.9 million was invested for the purchase of 12 digital mammography
units for communities across the province;
Capacity for radiation treatment in the province is now doubled with
two new radiation treatment machines (linear accelerators) now in
operation as a result of a $5.9 million investment by the Provincial
Government, bringing the total number of radiation treatment machines to
four;
$5.9 million for recruitment and retention of oncologists and
pathologists;
$375,000 invested in the Picture Archiving and Communications System
(PACS);
$511,200 for general practitioners at the Dr. H Bliss Murphy Cancer
Centre;
$4.5 million approved in 2008-09 for regional health authorities:
$2.3 million for data
management and to increase the capability for the collection,
analysis and management of information;
$1.7 million in
support of laboratory and pathology service needs;
$200,000 to assist in
the development of an oncology care management system at Eastern
Health;
$155,000 for
continuing medical education (CME) for pathologists and
oncologists; and,
$148,900 in support
of administrative and pharmaceutical needs for oncologists and
pathologists;
$961,900 approved in 2007-08 for regional health authorities:
$514,300 to meet
laboratory medicine service demands at Eastern Health;
$255,000 in training
for laboratory medicine technician and the Director of Quality
and Utilization at Eastern Health;
$141,600 to develop
the ER/PR communications database (NLCHI); and,
$51,000 for histology
laboratory technical support in Labrador.
2009 03 26 2:05 p.m.
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