Health Talks Focus of Day Long Session
By 250 News
Municipal leaders, provincial elected officials, and Northern Health reps huddled in Prince George yesterday to talk about key health issues in communities in Northern B.C.
This was the third annual health meeting organized by the North Central Municipal Association.
Municipal leaders, provincial elected officials, and Northern Health representatives discussed key health issues in Northern British Columbia at an all-day meeting in Prince George. The North Central Municipal Association organized this third annual health meeting on behalf of local governments to discuss successes and issues of concern in communities across the region.
NCMA President Craig Caruso, (who is also a Councillor in the District of Stewart) said the meeting was importatnt when it comes to getting answers to questions often raised in their respective communities "We may not agree on all of the issues nor will we be able to find solutions in a day, but we felt that the meeting was positive and constructive in raising concerns and discussing options.”
There were five key issues discussed:
- Recruitment and retention of health professionals, and how local communities can help to attract personnel;
- Steps to better involve local governments in Northern Health projects that are cost shared;
- The availability of ambulance service in Northern BC communities and its relationship with local first responder services;
- Addictions and mental health, including community prevention efforts and detox/mental health services; and
- Seniors’ care services and expansions in long-term care capacity.
Northern Health updated the NCMA leaders about:
- NH’s Care North strategy, which aims to help patients better manage chronic diseases
- The NH Connections medical travel assistance program, and
- The capital planning process
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I got the following from the B.C Government's web site. They are a real eye opener.
"As baby boomers age, demand on the system increases
$1.47 billion – total of all MSP premiums expected to be billed this year
$3,157 – amount spent by the province annually per person on health care in B.C.
$2,364 – average spent by the province annually per person aged 45 - 64
$5,224 – average spent by the province annually per person aged 65 - 74
$9,841 – average spent by the province annually per person aged 75 - 84
$20,878 – average spent by the province annually per person aged 85 or older
14% – percentage of B.C. population over the age of 65 today
24% – percentage of B.C. population expected to be over age 65 by year 2030"
This should provide incentive for politicians from all levels of government to spend taxpayers' money as carefully as possible. If there isn't going to be enough money for our health care system, shouldn't politicians start cutting back their spending on the less important items?
This recent huge increase in city taxes is not helping us to prepare for challenges for the future.
Anyone who is interested in big picture financial matters should watch CBS's "60 Minutes" news magazine show which airs 7:00
PM tomorrow. (Cable channel 7 in Prince George). One of the segments is going to feature an interview with the Comptroller-General of the United States, David Walker.
He is currently on a "fiscal reality wake up" tour of the U.S. A large part of the U.S's upcoming major fiscal crunch is going be caused by the entitlement programs which they have promised to their retirees. They have made lots of promises to their retirees, but they have not set aside nearly enough money to pay for these promises.
It seems to me Canada has similar problems when it come to paying for the promises we have made to our retirees