STRATCOM Health Care in Canada

The following is a review of developments affecting health care in Canada

The information is updated the first week of every month - so ... make this a regular stop in your information gathering activities.

The following information has been compiled from publicly available sources, StratCom does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or the authenticity of the information and StratCom cannot be held liable for errors.

Healthcare in Canada - April 2003

The Calgary Health Region, the University of Calgary and the Calgary Health Trust has received a $15 million donation from Alvin and Mona Libin to create a centre of excellence for heart health research, education and patient care. The "Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta" will serve southern Alberta and will provide programs to prevent and detect the early onset of heart disease, leading edge treatments and comprehensive rehabilitation and palliation services. Later in 2003, an $18-million Stroke Research Centre will open in Edmonton. In 2005, a $125-million Alberta Heart Institute will open at the University Hospital in Edmonton. This institute will serve as a centre of excellence for northern Alberta and Western Canada. Edmonton is home to Canada's largest heart transplant program and provides pediatric heart surgery for all three Prairie provinces.

The New Brunswick government will invest an additional $120 million in health care during the 2003/04 fiscal year. A $60 million increase in federal transfer funds will be broken down into three specific areas of allocation, with $24 million being placed in a new health-care reform fund. The fund will be used for initiatives such as reforming primary health care, establishing collaborative health practices, and improving prescription drug coverage for seniors and low-income New Brunswickers, with a particular focus on catastrophic drug coverage. Another $12 million will be used for upgrading diagnostic and medical equipment, while $24 million will be earmarked for unspecified hospital and medicare services. Overall, the health department's budget for 2003/04 is $1.48 billion, up 4.1% or $58.4 million in provincial funding from 2002/03.

The Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories (OAML) has entered into a two year agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Health to increase the provincial payment cap for laboratory services from an adjusted cap of approximately $506 million, to $526.0 million for the year ending March 31, 2004 and, $553.0 million for the year ending March 31, 2005. Under the terms of the agreement, which is retroactive to April 1, 2003, the Ministry of Health has also agreed to pay a one-time adjustment of $10.0 million pending the satisfaction of certain conditions by the OAML.

The following is a review of developments affecting health care in Canada

Healthcare in Canada - April 2003

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Send mail to stratcom@pagebleu.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Concept and Design Blue Page Productions
Copyright © 1996-2003 STRATCOM
Last modified: May 1, 2003