Investing in health care was top of mind for New Brunswick’s provincial party leaders on Friday.
Liberal Leader Susan Holt announced that her government intends to aid the one in six families struggling with fertility by covering the costs of one round of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
Officials said the cost of the IVF round would be $2.64 million, which they estimate would support 240 people each year.
Holt also announced a series of other initiatives to improve women’s health care in the province.
- Enhance midwifery services throughout the province and boost funding for training programs
- Provide free contraception to empower women with greater options in their reproductive health
- Implement at-home pap tests for cervical cancer screening to improve access to essential preventive care
“Our health-care system must be inclusive and responsive to the needs of every New Brunswicker,” said Holt.
“With these initiatives, we are taking a major step forward in creating a province where women’s health is a priority.”
She said the total cost of these initiatives would be $4.94 million annually.
Meanwhile, Green Party Leader David Coon unveiled his party’s plan aimed at urgently improving care for seniors.
Coon laid out seven essential priorities for a Green government to make certain that seniors have access to the care they require, whether they opt to stay at home or move into a long-term care setting:
- Guarantee that individuals in long-term care facilities receive a minimum of 4.1 hours of care each day
- Increase the comfort and clothing allowance, adjusting it according to inflation rates
- Set a maximum rate of $80 per day for special care homes
- Broaden the Nursing Homes Without Walls initiative to cover the entire province.
- Reinstate the Primary Informal Caregiver Benefit
- Put into action the long-awaited dementia strategy
- Eliminate government favouritism towards community-based nonprofit nursing homes
Coon stated the cost of these plans would be $185 million over four years.
“Our aging population deserves to age with dignity and receive quality care right in their communities,” Coon stated.
“As more and more New Brunswickers are forced to live in hospitals waiting for nursing home care, it’s clear that governments have not held up their end of the bargain.”
The Progressive Conservatives did not make any campaign announcements on Friday.
