Costs and Capacity in New Brunswick's Health Care System

Costs and Capacity in New Brunswick’s Health Care System

 

MONCTON (NBHC) – The New Brunswick Health Council (NBHC) recently spoke publicly of the sustainability challenge of our provincial health care system. The issue has also garnered much attention in the council’s on-going engagement sessions. To help interested stakeholders better appreciate the sustainability challenge, the NBHC has prepared a report called Understanding New Brunswick’s Health Care Costs and Capacity to Deliver Health Care.

 

In order for New Brunswick’s health care system to be sustainable there needs to be a balance between numerous elements. These elements include a low per capita cost, adequate capacity and resources, quality health care services, and citizen satisfaction with the health system, while providing the best health outcomes for New Brunswickers. There are challenges to achieving this balance: the rural nature of the province, the aging of the population, emerging drugs, improved technologies and new diseases, the changing expectations of citizens, and the continuing economic challenges. All of which make planning for the future – multi-year budgeting – extremely important in achieving the financial and clinical sustainability of the health care system.

 

The report is available in the “sustainability” section of the NBHC website (nbhc.ca). For quick reference purposes, the NBHC also included a one page overview of key elements of information. The NBHC will be adding information to this section in the year ahead.

 

The NBHC has been established as an independent and objective organization that measures, monitors and evaluates New Brunswick’s health system performance through a citizen-centered dual mandate of performance measurement and citizen engagement.

 

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Gingras, 506-869-6714, david.gingras@nbhc.ca

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