BC Politics - Who's offering what in healthcare

As we approach the provincial election on May 12th, we need to look at the issues and platforms relating to healthcare. While the economy and public safety are polling at the top of the list, healthcare remains in the top three in terms of "most important issue facing BC" according to a recent Angus Reid Strategies survey.

The NDP platform on healthcare is spelled out on its website (www.bcndp.ca) , although detail is sparse:

• More nurses and health professionals
• Improved seniors care with 3000 new long-term care beds and independent seniors advocate
• Shorter waitlists and plan to clear backlogged emergency rooms

There is no discussion of how this will be done; nor is there any discussion on how much this will cost, or what percentage of the provincial budget would be allocated to healthcare.

The Liberal platform is laid out in far greater detail, supported by video "platforms" on specific issues in healthcare separated into two categories: innovation and investment. Health Minister Abbott is seen on the Liberal website identifying the issues and addressing the challenges with solutions (see http://www.bcliberals.com/platform/premiers_message/#vidPlatform). In all, the Liberals will commit an additional $4.8 billion to healthcare by the end of 2012.

What stands out in these two platforms is the strategy by which both parties intend to address healthcare - the largest and fastest growing government expenditure. The NDP plan appears to demonstrate a "through more money at the problem" approach. The Liberal plan is more strategic, looking for innovative ways to address the issues. They've already demonstrated some of this in their management of emergency room overcrowding - which included expanding capacity for inpatients in order to be able to admit patients requiring further care; expanded capacity for short stay in several ERs in the Lower Mainland; and an innovative approach in providing department funding based upon the ER staff's ability to provide time-measured, appropriate care for patients.

Frankly, the Liberal and NDP platforms are not even comparable in their promise. There is nothing to the NDP platform on healthcare. The Liberals have created a strategy and long term plan that is fact based and already proven.