WHEREAS health facility capital funding levels have decreased significantly over the past two years; AND WHEREAS deferred maintenance results in both more costly repairs down the line and buildings and their operating systems wearing out faster; AND WHEREAS insufficient investments in building and modifications to reflect changing uses and new technology can compromise resident care and healing, perpetuate poor conditions for staff and staffing efficiencies and limit the number of and speed at which residents can be treated; AND WHEREAS eventually the cost and benefits to renovate older health facilities to current standards exceeds the cost and benefits of replacement: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities urge the Province of BC to invest in health capital at more appropriate levels to maintain, upgrade and replace publicly funded health facilities; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities urge the Province of BC to reinstate its historic share of major health capital projects and offsetting operating cost increases to all Health Authorities.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH SERVICES The provincial health budget in British Columbia increased to 10.9 billion in 200405 and now consumes 43 percent of the provincial budget. The 200405 operating and capital budgets make approximately 320 million in funding for facility and equipment projects available to health authorities. In B.C.s regionalized model, health authorities determine priorities for facilities and equipment according to local needs. To assist health authorities in addressing their capital needs within the available resources, the province has undertaken significant changes to the way capital is planned and managed. These strategies include: - providing three-year rolling budgets to enable health authorities to plan for the long term; - undertaking a province-wide assessment of health system assets to provide better data for prioritizing projects; and government remains committed to encouraging health authorities to explore new funding options that provide diverse and innovative solutions to meeting capital needs, including the use of private-public partnerships where appropriate and cost effective.