NBNU Submits Brief to Minister of Finance

Wednesday, 01 February 2012 14:50

President Marilyn Quinn forwarded a brief to Finance Minister Blaine Higgs as part of the pre-budget consultation process. In the brief, NBNU is suggesting that government must look at revenue increases and not just cuts to program spending.

As well, NBNU is proposing that government implement health care reforms which focus on a collaborative, community based model of primary care. “The idea of primary health care teams would not only provide more coordinated cost-effective care, but also would have a greater incentive to focus on wellness, prevention and patient education,” it said in the brief.

NBNU further believes that additional savings can be realized by implementing a generic drug program, addressing the high cost of institutional acute care by moving to a home-based program, and savings realized through better management of absenteeism.

Brief to the Department of Finance 2012-13 Budget Consultation Process (PDF)