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Jack Layton: Defend Public System, Drug Plan, Training Providers |
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Written by NDP
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Thursday, 05 January 2006 |
NDP Leader Jack Layton said the NDP would commit another $200 million per year to training health care professionals – filling out the NDP health plan.
The NDP would also move to block private insurance systems and implement a National Prescription Drug Plan.
The increased funding for training will be transferred to the provinces and territories with negotiated agreements to ensure that the money is allocated to address the skills in shortest supply in each part of the country. The additional investment is sufficient to fund the equivalent of another 16,000 nursing training spots.
“Proclaiming health care guarantees will not reduce waiting times,” Layton said. “Training more doctors and nurses will.”
Layton noted that training opportunities for health professionals were cut in the 1990s.
“We’re paying the price now,” Layton said. “So the NDP will make sure the federal government steps up to the plate, working closely with provinces and territories to help fund the training of health care workers.”
Layton reaffirmed the NDP’s commitment to ban the use of federal funds to subsidize any for-profit, private insurance system for medically necessary services under medicare.
“There are those who see the sick as profit centres and our aging population as an avenue for corporate growth,” Layton said. “But New Democrats have always defended public health care, and New Democrats always will.”
Layton spelled ot the proposal for a prescription drug plan yesterday.
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