Health Care Should Be Focus Of Campaign: NBMS

A group representing physicians around the province wants political parties and candidates to make health care the top priority of their platforms.

The New Brunswick Medical Society (NBMS) is advocating for a series of “bold” changes it says are needed to improve health care access.

Dr. Chris Goodyear, president of the society, said there are many gaps in the health-care system which need to be addressed.

“In the ability of emergency room departments to fill shifts with doctors, we’re seeing gaps in speciality care such as the gap in obstetrical care that happened in Bathurst in 2019,” said Goodyear in an interview.

The society has outlined several priorities it wants candidates and parties to focus on, such as a six per cent increase in health-care spending to account for inflation, increased cost of senior care, and overall system growth.

Goodyear said they also want to see a “robust” human resource strategy to improve recruit and retention of physicians, nurses and other health professionals.

“How many physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and other health-care providers are we going to need to look after New Brunswickers and where do those people need to go,” he said.

Another one of the society’s priorities is the hiring of 300 physicians around the province over the next four years.

Goodyear said more than 30,000 New Brunswickers are without a family doctor and that number is expected to keep growing.

NBMS also wants to see enhanced primary care access, including the development of a virtual care strategy, and maintaining strong leadership in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For too long, our health system has remained stagnant. Now is the time for bold, tangible change to improve access to care for all citizens,” said Goodyear in a news release.

“We can no longer afford to continue applying bandages to our health-care system. … We need a renewed provincial health plan that takes a holistic view of the health system with tangible objectives to align the services provided around the province with the needs of our population.”

Voters will head to the polls on September 14.

A recent survey among New Brunswickers determined that health is the most important issue to consider when casting their ballot this election, with 89% of those surveyed selecting it as a top priority. #NBpoli #NBElection pic.twitter.com/M0ro4DMVmU

— NBMS/SMNB (@nb_docs) August 28, 2020