A local senior investment analyst is surprised that people are shocked by the Economic Recovery Team report’s conclusions.
Health care represents a big portion of the province’s annual expenses – about 37 per cent of the budget.
Pointing to duplication in the province’s four regional health authorities, Larry Short says cuts to health care spending don’t necessarily mean cuts to services.
He says alternatives can be found to primary health care delivery. Ways have already been found in other areas like British Columbia and northern Ontario that have taken some of the burden and cost off the system, according to Short.
In those areas, people can renew their prescriptions at local pharmacies where they can see a physician who is based elsewhere remotely he says, and get their diagnosis and prescription, instead of having to go to an emergency room because they don’t have access to a family doctor.