Our government is making the largest ever investment in health care this year. The $3.9 billion investment represents a $300 million increase from the previous year, and most importantly highlights our commitment to reimagining health care and improving the ability of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to access care.

This record investment builds on the meaningful action that has been taken to ensure timely access to care, as well as enhances our efforts to support our valued health care professionals and our global recruitment efforts.

Reimagining Health Care

Guided by Health Accord NL, we are driving meaningful change across the health care system that will improve access to primary care, shorten wait times, and provide integrated service delivery. Budget 2023 investments totaling more than $60 million for transformative initiatives include:

• More than $21 million for 10 new Family Care Teams across the province. This will provide access to primary care for up to 80,000 people when fully implemented, with more to come.
• $15 million towards a new health information system, which will enhance continuity of care by improving information sharing between health care providers and facilities.
• $9 million to begin to consolidate 60 separate road ambulance services into a single, integrated service with centralized dispatch.
• Adding a new medical flight specialist team for Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
• $5 million for a new virtual care program that will expand access to primary care and emergency services in all areas of the province.
• $1 million increase in the Medical Transportation Assistance Program, which will now be administered by a standalone Department of Labrador Affairs.
• $1 million to cover provider costs for the Electronic Medical Record system to enable sharing of appropriate clinical information across providers within a patients’ circle of care.
• $3 million for the new Cardiovascular and Stroke Institute that will allow for enhanced cardiac, vascular, and stroke services and other clinical services for residents throughout the province.
• Close to $2 million for clinical space for an urgent care centre in the Metro St. John’s area, which will provide access to care for unexpected, non-life-threatening health concerns.
• Approximately $1.8 million for travelling orthopaedic teams and same day hip and knee replacement, which will help address the high demand for these procedures.
• $800,000 to improve operating room capacity at the Janeway Children’s Hospital.
• $500,000 for greater access to maternal care through the implementation of province-wide midwifery services.

Recruitment and Retention

Health care professionals are the heart of the province’s health care system. Our investments continue to focus on improved working conditions and global recruitment efforts to attract new professionals to live and work in Newfoundland and Labrador. Budget 2023 investments totaling more than $23 million include:

• $7.6 million for a Part-Time Annual Commitment Pilot Program aimed at recruiting physicians for difficult-to-fill positions.
• $1 million to support new family physicians to set-up and establish primary care clinics.
• $700,000 for a Physician Assistants Pilot Program that will help support human resource challenges across the health system.
• $500,000 for a Supervised Practice Experience Program aimed at local and internationally-educated nurses re-entering the workforce as registered nurses.
• Adding five seats to Memorial University’s Undergraduate Medical Education Program for students from this province, and five seats in the Family Medicine Residency Program for International Medical Graduates at the Faculty of Medicine. Expanding seat capacity will have a year-over-year multiplier effect and ensure a steady stream of new recruits into the province’s system.

Seniors’ Care

Budget 2023 focuses on a more integrated continuum of care for seniors that supports individuals to age in place, and builds a foundation within the community to better manage the care of older adults. Budget 2023 includes a commitment of $31.8 million, which includes:

• $7.7 million this year and increasing to $9.3 million next year for health care professionals who support self-managed care in the home.
• $7.5 million annual increase for community care home professionals.
• $6.1 million annual increase for personal care home professionals.
• $3.5 million annually to support the Dementia Care Action Plan. This will increase awareness and improve services for those living with dementia and their care partners.
• $1.3 million to cover the cost of driver medicals for people 75 years of age and older, supporting continued independence.
• $1.2 million annually is allocated for the Lionel Kelland Hospice in Grand Falls-Windsor.

Mental Health

Our government is focused on ensuring readily available access to mental health services, when and where people need them most. Budget 2023 includes:

• $5 million for community-based wraparound mental health and additions services.
• $4.4 million annually for Flexible Assertive Community Treatment teams within the existing system of community-based programs and services for individuals with mental health needs.
• $200,000 for the Regional Early Psychosis Nurse Program in the Labrador-Grenfell Health region, along with support for expansion of the rotational mental health counsellor model to all communities in coastal Labrador.

New Drugs and Treatments

Budget 2023 includes support for a number of improved diagnostic and treatment services, including:

• More than $187 million for the provincial drug program, which includes additional funding to add 12 new drugs to the formulary to help treat conditions such as prostate cancer, leukemia, Wilson’s Disease and Beta-thalassemia associated anemia.
• $2 million for the provincial oncology drug program.
• $1.4 million for access to Hepatitis C treatments for individuals who are part of the correctional system.