Ontario hopes to put patients’ needs first
On Feb. 29, 2016, the Government of Ontario announced that they would follow through on their promise to invest over $345 million in publicly funded hospitals across the province. The investment is part of the provincial government’s Patients First: Action Plan for Healthcare initiative.
The plan’s main pillars involve improving healthcare access for patients, home care, community care, and creating educational resources tailored to achieving and maintaining good health. The government cites increasing access to primary and specialized care to improve the patient’s experience as their main objective in the 2016/2017 budget-year.
Beyond that, the government vows to protect the evidence-based system currently in place by appointing a patient ombudsman and requiring more public reports on healthcare performance based on patient treatment.
“This investment will go to support frontline care and help to keep wait times low,” said Anthony Dale, president and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association, in a Feb. 29, 2016 news release. “Ontario hospitals have been relentless in further improving their performance and have developed strong partnerships with government and other providers in an effort to create a better experience for patients and clients across a range of services.”
[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]…to protect the evidence-based system currently in place…[/pullquote]
The investment will include a one per cent increase to base funding to publicly funded hospitals, of which there are 154 across Ontario. Rural and northern hospitals will receive $7.5 million, on top of the $20 million already sanctioned by the Small and Rural Hospital Transformation Fund.
“The province’s economic plan supports strong public services in communities across Ontario,” said Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance, in the same Feb. 29, 2016 news release. “The 2016 Budget supports continued commitments to increase patients’ access to primary care, to provide more care for people at or close to home and to help all Ontario families continue to receive quality health care.”
The bulk of the funding—approximately $175 million—will contribute to accessibility to organ and tissue transplants and other services. Another $160 million will go toward improving emergency room waiting times.
The government’s investment also hopes to better aid Ontario’s aging baby-boomer generation. Much of the baby-boomer demographic is now retired or approaching retirement; as a result, Ontario hospitals face an increase in joint-replacement surgery programs and at-home healthcare.
“With this new and important funding, we are working to ensure that patients can receive the procedures they need faster, such as hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, in the Feb. 29 news release.
As concerns over mental health and mental illness continue to mark the 21st Century, the Government of Ontario has committed $6 million to create safe and supportive housing spaces for people living with mental health and addiction issues. This comes as part two of a three-year plan to invest $16 million in improving mental health and addiction care.
Additionally, the government’s 10-year healthcare plan will provide $2 million to 10 Indigenous organizations to create strategies to combat mental health and addictions issues.