|
Health and Community Services
February 18, 2008
No New
Money in Federal Announcement
The
Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Health and Community Services,
responded to the announcement today by Federal Minister Loyola Hearn
which has falsely left an impression in the public that new money has
been allocated to health initiatives in the province.
�While we recognize the significant value in these
projects for the people in our province, it should be made clear that
these initiatives stem from broader initiatives which have already been
announced,� said Minister Wiseman.
The minister clarified that the three tobacco-reduction
projects approved for the Seniors Resource Centre, the Newfoundland and
Labrador Lung Association, and the Nunatsiavut Government were funded
through the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy, which was initially
announced as a block of funding for Atlantic Canada last year. As well,
the continued funding allocated for three projects supporting the health
of Aboriginal communities in the province was previously announced
through the Nunatsiavut Government.
�There are significant health-related issues which need
to be addressed and we would like to see the Federal Government come to
the table to discuss new initiatives rather than re-stating initiatives
already established,� said Minister Wiseman. �One key example is the
need for a catastrophic drug plan, which is the most important component
of a National Pharmaceutical Strategy. All provinces and territories
have jointly asked the Federal Government for their support, yet since
the launch of the National Pharmaceutical Strategy Progress Report in
2006, we have not received a substantial response.
�Furthermore, the federal government has been announcing
programs with no sustainable funding, which shifts the burden of the
cost to the provinces,� added Minister Wiseman. �While we don�t dispute
the clear value of these programs, the method by which the Federal
Government established them has translated into escalated costs for the
provinces with no advance discussion or sustainable funding put in
place.�
-30-
Media
contact:
Tara Furlong
Communications Manager
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-2888, 727-2701
tarafurlong@gov.nl.ca
2009 02 18 5:30
p.m. |
