The Ontario Hospital Association is raising alarms about potential service cuts if the province doesn’t boost hospital funding.
The Association reports that many hospitals are anticipating year-end deficits or have depleted their reserves just to keep running.
In a pre-budget submission, President Anthony Dale emphasizes that hospitals require stable, multi-year funding for at least three years to make proper plans.
“Costs for the sector have been rising by about 6% per year, primarily due to Ontario’s growing population, its aging population and inflation, in general,” says Dale.
“In recent years, the sector has received annual increases of approximately 4%, leaving the sector with a persistent and deepening structural deficit of approximately $1 billion.”
Dale mentions that Ontario hospitals are already the most efficient across Canada, and further cost-cutting measures will likely result in reduced services or closures.
“There are no easy choices ahead,” says Dale.
He points out that long-standing problems like unfunded beds and outdated funding rates have pushed hospitals into deficits that efficiencies can’t fix.
Randy Thoms is a veteran news broadcaster with over 40 years’ experience. He is based in Fort Frances and covers stories across northwestern Ontario. Contact Randy at thoms. randy@radioabl. ca.
View all posts
Source link
Source link
