Southwestern Public Health Reacts to Amalgamation

Monday, 13 May 2019 at 10:53

Southwestern Public Health has issued a statement regarding the new funding mode in Ontario and the Province moving from 35 health units, to 10.

OXFORD COUNTY - The Southwestern Public Health's Board members have expressed their concerns over the new funding model in Ontario.

On May 8th the board discussed the Province's plans to modernize public health and the implications the proposed changes will have on the delivery of public health in our large rural catchments area. Last month the Province announced plans amalgamate the 35 health units in Ontario, into 10 Regional Public Health entities. The geographies covered by those entities have yet to be publicized. It also announced plans to
modernize public health and to change the current cost sharing arrangement with municipalities.

Currently, municipalities fund a minimum of 25% of public health service delivery and the province funds the other 75%. The new funding arrangement sees the municipalities covering 30% as of April 1, 2019, 30% as of April 1, 2020 and between 30% and 40% as of April 1, 2021. These number will differ somewhat depending on the size of the catchment area of the new Public Health Entities. Toronto’s split will be 50/50 by 2021, and the smallest regions are looking at a 70/30 split.

CEO of Southwestern Public Health Cynthia St. John says board members noted that it is the Board's belief that the public health unit must maintain strong relationships with local citizens, businesses and service providers to ensure that local needs are met in a timely and appropriate way.

"There is wisdom in local communities about their own unique needs and the barriers to good health that they face. Planning in partnership with individuals and local community partners, and
delivery at a very localized level are what drive our success."

Board Chair Larry Martin adds that the the intention of public health is to keep people healthy by preventing illness and injury.

"That intention is tightly aligned with the current government's goal of reducing hallway medicine by keeping people out of hospitals entirely. If we become less effective at the local level, we can't help reduce the burden in the rest of the health system."