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2009 Nov 19 (Thu)
H1N1 Influenza Immunization Costs
Kevin asks questions regarding the costs of the H1N1 pandemic and how the costs will be classified in the budget.
1863 Alberta Hansard November 18, 2009
Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Fighting the H1N1 pandemic is costing money, which, as long as it’s properly spent, is certainly well worth it. The cost of things like vaccines and clinics and staffing, hospitalization, public education are over and above the normal expenses of a health care system. It’s reported that these costs could hit a hundred million dollars. My question is to the Minister of Health and Wellness. Can the minister actually tell us what the costs of fighting the H1N1 pandemic are expected to be? Are they in the range of the hundred million dollars that has been reported?
Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, earlier on this summer when we were anticipating the vaccine program, I did say that the cost could be as high as a hundred million dollars. Now, I think it’s fair to say at this stage that we’ve revised those numbers. We don’t have anything concrete yet. As an example, initially it was thought that the majority of people would have to have two doses of vaccine. That’s been revised to one dose pretty much across the board. Obviously, there are significant cost savings there. All I can say is that we will ensure that we have a full costing of the program, and it will be significant.
Dr. Taft: I appreciate the answer. Given that Alberta Health Services is already facing a huge deficit, it would be unfair if the one-time pandemic costs were added to that deficit. That would, I think, simply fuel further cuts to the health budget, cuts that would be unjustified. To the same minister: can he tell us if the pandemic costs will be added to the already $1.3 billion deficit of Alberta Health Services?
Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, as we move through the winter season, we’ll have a better sense of the exact cost. It would be my intention to go to Treasury Board. That is my intention. I can’t promise what Treasury Board is going to say or do, but it would be my intention to go to Treasury Board because I think this particular pandemic is an unusual expense. I look at it in the same way as how we fund forest fires. Those are the things that are not expected, not budgeted for. That would be the plan but a little further down the road.
Dr. Taft: Thank you. Well, let me help the minister with his pitch. My question, then, I guess, will go to the President of the Treasury Board. The pandemic does seem to be in the category of an actual disaster like a bad forest fire season or a tornado or a flood, and these costs are covered normally through extraordinary expenses through the sustainability fund or some special allocation. To the President of the Treasury Board: will this government ensure that the costs of the pandemic are not drained from the health care system but are covered as an extraordinary, one-time event in the same manner as any other natural disaster?
Mr. Snelgrove: I want to thank the hon. member for the question because it is a serious question, and it’s something that we need to develop a policy around as we go forward. I would hope that it’s the last time that something like this would happen, but it’s probably not going to be. We had discussions with the minister of health over a month ago, six weeks ago, about the importance of keeping track of all of the effects of this, even to include hospitalization. The benefit of that is that it will help us track our system, the costs and the most effective use of the resources around it. I take the hon. member’s question as good intentioned, and we will do what we can to work with the minister of health and address the exact issue he has talked about.
Date: Thu Nov 19 16:24:20 MST 2009
Author: Rebecca
IP: 68.149.137.22
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