Parti PC Réponse Officiale

Dear Ms Manthorne,

Thank you for your thoughtful email. Your work and that of your organization are vital to the success of our provincial health care system. The first issue you raise is a central one to tackling our healthcare system. New Brunswick now has the longest wait times in the country, and we are not doing enough to recruit physicians.
We need to examine and reform the antiquated billing number system, which is far too restrictive and drives doctors away. We need to actively engage with our medical professionals to build recruitment packages that are enticing, instead of dictating policy from the centre. Our party has always believed that the health care system’s greatest strength is its people, and we need to make sure we attract the best and brightest.
Our party also plans on hiring more physician assistants, to alleviate some of the strains on our system. There is ample evidence to show that they are a huge boost to efficiency, and those currently working at Everett Chalmers Hospital have exceeded expectations.
In terms of a national pharmacare strategy, we respect federal jurisdiction, and we understand there are currently explorations ongoing to reform the national pharmacare system. We are committed to being constructive partners with our federal counterparts, and we look forward to working with them to address these outstanding issues.
We also know that not enough has been done to engage with a variety of stakeholders over the last four years. This government centralizes control and does not listen to those for whom our healthcare was designed: patients. We look forward to working with you after the election, regardless of the result, to strengthen patient advocacy mechanisms, and ensure that all of those in our system receive the care and diligence to which they are completely entitled.
Thank you again for your insightful message, we wish you and your organization the best of luck in the coming months.
Sincerely yours,

Team Higgs

Questions:

In 2017, 4,700 New Brunswickers were diagnosed with cancer and 2,100 died of it. Clearly, this life-threatening illness affects families, friends, the workplace and entire communities.

The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN) works to connect patients, survivors and other stakeholder groups with decision makers and the wider community to engage in discussion and to act on evidence-based best practices to alleviate the medical, emotional, financial and social costs of cancer and encourage research on ways to overcome barriers to optimal cancer care and follow-up for survivors in Canada.

The government of New Brunswick has a critical role to play in making sure that everyone diagnosed with cancer has timely access to the medications they need; is not subjected to dangerously long wait times for diagnosis and treatment; and receives adequate financial support during diagnosis and treatment.

We invite you to respond to the following questions about cancer care and healthcare in New Brunswick. Your responses will be circulated to cancer patients and survivors in New Brunswick and included on our website at www.survivornet.ca. Links to your responses will also be posted on Facebook and Twitter.

Question 1: Access to primary healthcare

According to Statistics Canada, more than 11.3% of the province’s population is without a family doctor. This means that 107,787 New Brunswickers are without access to primary care. In addition, wait lists for general practitioners are increasing from one to two years, and this problem is projected to worsen with doctors retiring and the growth of the senior population.   

If elected, what steps will your government take to increase the availability of family doctors and healthcare practitioners in New Brunswick?

Question 2: National pharmacare

Canada’s universal healthcare system does not include access to prescription medicines. The result is a provincial/territorial patchwork of public and private insurance plans that are costly, ineffective and do not guarantee access to prescribed drugs. The federal government has set up an Advisory Council on the Implementation of Pharmacare to look at how access to prescription drugs can be improved in our healthcare system. Patients throughout Canada are concerned that national pharmacare will lead to a list of covered drugs that only meets the lowest common denominator.

If elected, will your government support the implementation of a national pharmacare program that guarantees access to prescription medicines and a coverage plan that goes beyond a formulary that meets the lowest common denominator?

If not, please explain how your party will ensure that New Brunswickers will have timely access to prescription drugs.

Question 3: Patient engagement

Patients are key stakeholders in the healthcare system. Currently, there are no dedicated patient engagement committees that advise the provincial government on healthcare issues. Regional health authorities have patient advisory committees, but more is needed. 

While the government consults with regional health authorities and physicians, patients must also have direct participation in these consultations by being included in the provincial level.

If elected, will your government take steps to create a Patient Engagement Committee that directly advises the government on healthcare issues?

 

Sincerely,

Canadian Cancer Survivor Network