WHEREAS the provincial government has now created capital projects priority criteria that grants up to twenty bonus points to regional hospital boards that are prepared to fund up to 90 of capital projects costs; AND WHEREAS such policies will create a two-tier medical facilities situation in British Columbia between those regional hospital boards that can afford to raise more capital via higher property taxes and those boards that cannot: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM register a strong protest with the provincial government, especially the Minister of Health, with regard to ongoing attempts by the provincial government to download its capital funding responsibilities, via insufficient funding of Health Authorities that burden property taxpayers, when they already pay for this capital funding via income taxes.
Ministry of Health The Ministry of Health and BCs six health authorities use a common capital project evaluationscoring tool as part of the prioritization process for new capital projects. Base criteria used to evaluate projects include urgency, improved patient access, safety, human resources and innovation. In addition, there are two bonus point criteria recognizing that not all health authorities have Regional Health Districts RDH, and within health authorities, not all facilities are eligible for RHD capital cost sharing. The bonus point criteria consider operating cost benefits and additional funding partners providing funding beyond the 40 percent level. Since this evaluation tool is still in development, the Ministry does not use the bonus point criteria when considering which new capital projects to prioritize for capital funding. The decision to approve a project is ultimately based on the need of a project and that the project meets the base criteria within the strategies of the health authority and the Ministry. RHDs throughout the province operate differently; some fund more than 40 per cent of a projects cost while others fund items that some other RHDs would consider outside the scope of their mandate. RHD capital cost sharing is voluntary. In each case, the Ministry respects the decisions made by the regional hospital districts as they consider whats in the best interest of their region. The Ministry does not make capital funding decisions based on how much additional non-provincial funding can be contributed to a project. Since 2001, the Ministry has invested almost 7 billion in health capital projects in B.C. These investments in health care infrastructure benefit the health of all British Columbians, and help create thousands of jobs in communities around the province.