Nouvelles

Telegraph-Journal
p. A10, samedi, 7 février 2009

Clear the air on care

Premier Graham must clear the air over language and get back to the common priorities in health care - reducing wait times, reining in costs and improving the quality of care.

The province's commitment to provide medical services in both official languages has never wavered. What has changed is the public's perception of the government. Health Minister Michael Murphy's reduction of eight health authorities to two has left some francophones concerned that linguistic equality is being undermined. For many other New Brunswickers, the policy seems like a dangerous step toward corrosive, competitive duality.

Premier Graham says the decision to create two authorities was the best way to make New Brunswick's hospital system sustainable. We don't believe it is, but we share the concern that other, needed reforms could be derailed if fears are not put to rest.

Premier Graham must bring the health care debate back to the core concern - speedy diagnosis and treatment, delivered on a sustainable basis.

Getting back on track will be a two-stage process. The Premier needs to stress that New Brunswick's commitment to bilingualism is genuine and effective. And the Department of Health, under the premier's guidance, needs to develop policies that apply equally to all patients.

New Brunswickers want access to health care in their own language, and they are entitled to it. But New Brunswick does not need, and cannot afford, two parallel health care systems. RHA A and RHA B are administrative districts. They are not a substitute for universally effective health policies.

We believe the Department of Health can take the politics out of health care if the Premier makes a commitment to do so. Stop the regional bickering over who is entitled to what and start selling New Brunswickers on the strengths of a single hospital network that functions efficiently.

If the province can deliver reduced costs and better service, in both official languages, the fears that have been driving this debate will evaporate.