WHITEHORSE – NDP Official Opposition Leader Liz Hanson today called on Premier Pasloski and the Yukon government to make health care innovation a top priority. Changes to the current health care delivery model could help address increasing cost pressures and improve patient care while protecting the public medicare system.

 

“It’s time for the Yukon government to revisit the current model of health care delivery,” said Hanson. “A greater emphasis on collaborative care and sufficient resources for long-term care could help relieve the immense pressure on our cherished system of universal public health care.”

 

Hanson and the NDP have consistently called for a collaborative team-based approach to health care in which doctors, nurse practitioners and other health care providers work in teams to improve patient services and cost effectiveness. They have also called for proper system of long-term care to help free up acute care hospital beds and better respond to patients’ long-term care needs.

 

“Previous reviews of health care in the Yukon have said we should to move towards a system of patient-centred collaborative care,” said Hanson. “We should also create a better system of long-term care that ends the wasteful practice of placing long-term patients in acute care hospital beds. These ideas are not radical. Practical solutions are there and what we need is for the government to act.”

 

Cooperating with other jurisdictions on the bulk buying of prescription drugs could also result in significant savings.

 

Hanson’s statement came in response to the Premier’s recent comments about the federal government’s health care funding plan. Despite the fact the Prime Minister has said the federal government’s proposal is firm and other premiers have called it unacceptable, the Yukon government has essentially accepted it.

 

“Real leadership on health care means standing up for the interests of Yukoners and being bold in the pursuit of innovation,” said Hanson. “What’s the Premier waiting for?”