LIBERAL BILL ENSURES TIMELY APPROVAL OF HEALTH AUTHORITY BUSINESS PLANS
Date: Monday September 21, 2009

(Halifax, NS) Today in the House of Assembly, Liberal finance critic
Leo Glavine introduced an amendment to the Finance Act that will force
the provincial government to approve all District Health Authority
business plans before the tabling of the budget each year.

“We must make sure that district health authorities across Nova
Scotia have their business plans approved in a timely and responsible
manner,” explained Glavine. “Without approved budgets, DHAs are
handcuffed in their decision-making and in their ability to deliver
top-quality healthcare to Nova Scotians.”

The Liberal MLA pointed to the budgetary challenges faced by Capital
Health last year, which ultimately required that DHA to cancel hundreds
of surgeries. In years past, other DHAs have also operated without
approved plans.

“Capital Health still doesn’t have last year’s business plan
approved,” reminded Glavine. “The NDP government must give
healthcare providers the tools and the roadmap they need to plan for the
fiscal year ahead.”

With healthcare costs skyrocketing in the province, Glavine believes it
would be foolish to table a provincial budget with DHA business plans
still in flux.

“No one benefits - not the health authority, not the patients or
staff and especially not the taxpayer,” Glavine says. “As it stands,
Health represents nearly fifty per cent of Nova Scotia’s budget. We
shouldn’t be trying to deliver healthcare to Nova Scotians with a plan
that is essentially a work in progress.”

“While in opposition, the NDP constantly criticized the previous
government’s inability to approve health authority business plans and
the resulting ‘standstill in healthcare’. If they’re serious about
it, they’ll support this legislation.”

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