Investing in healthcare was top of mind for Friday’s New Brunswick provincial campaign trail.
Liberals plan to boost women’s healthcare when in power
During a press event in Moncton, Susan Holt, the leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party, announced that her government intends to aid the one in six families struggling with fertility by covering the costs of one round of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment.
Liberal officials say the cost of the IVF round would be $2.64 million in funding, which they estimate would support 240 people each year.
Holt also announced a series of other initiatives to improve women’s healthcare in the province.
- Enhance midwifery services throughout the province and boost funding for training programs
- Provide free contraception to empower women with greater options in their reproductive health
- Implement at-home pap tests for cervical cancer screening to improve access to essential preventive care
“Our healthcare system must be inclusive and responsive to the needs of every New Brunswicker,” said Holt.
“With these initiatives, we are taking a major step forward in creating a province where women’s health is a priority.”
She would also add the total cost of these incisive would be $4.94 million annually.
If elected, Green Party pledges quality senior care
The Green Party’s leader, David Coon, accompanied by Sarah Lord, the candidate for Riverview, unveiled their comprehensive plan aimed at urgently improving care for seniors.
Coon laid out seven essential priorities for a Green government to make certain that seniors have access to the care they require, whether they opt to stay at home or move into a long-term care setting:
- Guarantee that individuals in long-term care facilities receive a minimum of 4.1 hours of care each day
- Increase the comfort and clothing allowance, adjusting it according to inflation rates
- Set a maximum rate of $80 per day for special care homes
- Broaden the Nursing Homes Without Walls initiative to cover the entire province.
- Reinstate the Primary Informal Caregiver Benefit
- Put into action the long-awaited dementia strategy
- Eliminate government favouritism towards community-based nonprofit nursing homes
Coon stated the cost of these plans would be $185 Million over four years.
“Our aging population deserves to age with dignity and receive quality care right in their communities,” Coon stated.
“As more and more New Brunswickers are forced to live in hospitals waiting for nursing home care, it’s clear that governments have not held up their end of the bargain.”
No announcements where made from the Progressive Conservative and New Brunswicks’ New Democratic Party.