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Fare well to Nova Scotia? Public health investments remain chronically underfunded.
Caldwell, Hilary A T; Scruton, Sarah; Fierlbeck, Katherine; Hajizadeh, Mohammad; Dave, Shivani; Sim, S Meaghan; Kirk, Sara F L.
  • Caldwell HAT; Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, 1318 Robie Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3E2, Canada.
  • Scruton S; Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, 1318 Robie Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3E2, Canada.
  • Fierlbeck K; Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, 1318 Robie Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3E2, Canada.
  • Hajizadeh M; Department of Political Science, Dalhousie University, 6299 South Street, Rm 301, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
  • Dave S; MacEachen Institute of Public Policy and Governance, Dalhousie University, Macdonald Building, 2nd Floor, 6300 Coburg Road, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
  • Sim SM; Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, 1318 Robie Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3E2, Canada.
  • Kirk SFL; School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Sir Charles Tupper Medical Building, 2nd Floor, 5850 College Street, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
Can J Public Health ; 112(2): 186-190, 2021 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1229505
ABSTRACT
Inspired by Fiset-Laniel et al.'s (2020) article entitled "Public health investments neglect or wilful omission? Historical trends in Quebec and implications for Canada", we assessed public health investments since the establishment of the Nova Scotia provincial health authority in 2015. We analyzed Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness budgets from 2015-2016 to 2019-2020 and observed that less than 1% of funding was budgeted for public health annually, an amount well below the recommendation that 5-6% of healthcare funding be spent on public health. Healthcare spending has increased annually since 2015-2016, but proportions of funding to different programs and services have remained static. Specifically, we did not observe a change in investment in public health over time, suggesting that while the government does not necessarily spend too much or too little on healthcare, it spends far too little on public health. This chronic under-funding is problematic given the high rates of non-communicable diseases in Nova Scotia and health inequities experienced within the population. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of public health work, and the need for a pandemic recovery plan that prioritizes investment in all areas of public health in Nova Scotia.
RéSUMé Inspirés par l'article de Fiset-Laniel et coll. (2020) intitulé « Public health investments neglect or wilful omission? Historical trends in Quebec and implications for Canada ¼, nous avons évalué les investissements en santé publique depuis la fondation de l'autorité sanitaire provinciale de la Nouvelle-Écosse en 2015. Nous avons analysé les budgets du ministère de la Santé et du Mieux-Être de la Nouvelle-Écosse de 2015−2016 à 2019−2020 et nous avons observé que moins de 1 % du financement était prévu pour la santé publique annuellement, un montant bien inférieur à la recommandation que 5−6 % du financement pour les soins de santé soit dépensé sur la santé publique. Les dépenses de santé ont augmenté annuellement depuis 2015−2016, mais les proportions du financement consacrés à différents programmes et services ont demeuré statiques. Spécifiquement, nous n'avons pas observé de changement dans l'investissement en santé publique au fil du temps, indiquant que tandis que le gouvernement ne dépense pas nécessairement trop ou trop peu sur les soins de santé, il dépense bien trop peu sur la santé publique. Ce sous-financement chronique est problématique étant donné les hauts taux de maladies non transmissibles en Nouvelle-Écosse et les inégalités en matière de santé qui existent au sein de la population. La pandémie de la COVID-19 de 2020 a souligné l'importance du travail lié à la santé publique, ainsi que la nécessité d'un plan de rétablissement suite à une pandémie qui priorise l'investissement dans tous les domaines de santé publique en Nouvelle-Écosse.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Budgets / Public Health / Financing, Government Type of study: Observational study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Can J Public Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S41997-021-00478-8

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Budgets / Public Health / Financing, Government Type of study: Observational study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Can J Public Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S41997-021-00478-8