Physicians respond to province’s new five-year health plan

The New Brunswick Medical Society (NBMS) welcomes the release of Caring for New Brunswick: Putting People at the Heart of Healthcare, the provincial government’s new five-year health plan. It is encouraging to see that addressing the interests of both patients and clinicians has factored heavily in the renewal of this plan.

Physicians across the province share the government’s goal of ensuring that every New Brunswicker has timely and equitable access to quality care. The plan’s focus on strengthening primary care, supporting the health-care workforce, improving access to mental health services, and enhancing care for seniors reflects priorities long advocated by the medical community.

Giving the right tools and supports to physicians, nurses and allied health professionals is the most effective way to increase access and improve care to patients. We are pleased to see an emphasis on team-based primary care and workforce sustainability, two areas critical to improving patient access and reducing strain across the system. To be successful, this plan must be implemented in close partnership with front-line providers who understand the realities of care delivery in every corner of our province.

New Brunswick’s physicians want to see meaningful change that leads to better outcomes for patients and a more sustainable health system for all. We are happy this is a living document and will look forward to working with government to monitor, implement, and update elements of the health plan in the coming years.

Dr. Lise Babin
President, NBMS