Dear Editor,

I read with concern a press release issued by the NDP on January 17 regarding the closure of health care units and services in our riding. This claim does not represent the facts.

Decisions regarding the cessation of any medical service do not lie with government but with health care management officials and are made with greatest of consideration.

The management of health care service delivery was put into the hands of professionally trained experts by the BC Liberal government many years ago simply because politicians have no business making health care management decisions.

This system has worked well and continues to be responsive to ever-changing health care needs. Today, B.C. has the best health outcomes in Canada in many key categories like joint replacement, cardiac and cancer care, resulting in the healthiest people in Canada. This management model continues to ensure precious health care dollars are used in a way that brings the greatest return to British Columbian patients and their families.

The truth is that total spending on health care in this province has increased by 92 per cent since 2001 from $9.4 billion to $18 billion this year, and funding for Health Authorities will be increased by $1.1 billion over the next three years.

That said, there are still cost pressures, which is why the health authorities and government are working to streamline services, increase health promotions, and find savings and efficiencies to improve health care for today and tomorrow. The BC Liberals take you and your families’ health care issues very seriously and we continue to work hard to ensure that B.C.’s health care system is sustainable so it will be there for our children and our grandchildren.

Doug Clovechok

BC Liberal Candidate

Columbia River-Revelstoke