Federal budget 2024: What lies ahead for Canada’s health-care system?
Global News
With the unveiling of the 2024 federal budget Tuesday, Canadians may be anxiously awaiting insights into the plans for tackling the strains on the health-care system.
With the unveiling of the 2024 federal budget just around the corner, Canadians may be anxiously awaiting insights into the government’s plans for tackling the ongoing strains on the nation’s health-care system.
The federal budget is set to be tabled Tuesday, with the Liberal government already unveiling plans for a national food program as well as the final province recently signing onto Ottawa’s new health-care deal worth $196.1 billion over 10 years.
But amid a backdrop of doctor shortages and enduring wait times in emergency rooms, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) warned that without proper investment from all levels of government, the country’s health-care system will continue to struggle to meet the needs of patients.
“More than six million Canadians are without access to primary care,” CMA president Dr. Kathleen Ross told Global News. “Lengthy wait times (are) ongoing for surgeries and diagnostics and other life-saving treatments. And our emergency departments continue to struggle with high volume and operating routinely beyond capacity. Solutions need to keep coming.”
On Wednesday, the CMA released a statement urging the federal government to ensure budget investments are aimed at addressing the gaps in the health system, such as putting more funds toward team-based medical care, scaling virtual care and reducing administrative burdens.
Ross acknowledges there are a lot of competing priorities in the budget, such as education, housing and food security, but believes all of these sectors tie together with health.
“They’re not siloed, but breaking down and understanding where health-care dollars are, what we expect from our health-care dollars and tying it together with the greater investments the government makes this year is all critically important,” she told Global News.
Federal Health Minister Mark Holland said he believes the upcoming budget will help alleviate the strained conditions facing Canada’s health-care system. He emphasized the government’s commitment to swiftly address these issues, stating, “That’s why we’re sprinting, not running to get this work done.”
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