Statement on the 2016 Speech from the Throne

We are very pleased the Government of New Brunswick has now committed to our challenge to become one of the top three healthiest provinces in Canada in ten years. This is a credible shift in government’s support for a healthier society, and much work needs to be done to accomplish this goal. Doctors believe it is time to fully develop a plan to enable New Brunswick to be a national leader – not a national laggard – in a healthy population, and we would be pleased to participate in its development.

We look forward to partnering with government on improving access to family doctors and specialists and recruiting more over the next year. Our work on this will be key to driving health care back into the community and reducing New Brunswickers’ reliance on emergency rooms for non-emergent health care needs.

Finally, we believe a palliative care strategy is sorely needed in New Brunswick and welcome news of its imminent implementation. This has been discussed for years and needs to be put in place as soon as possible.

Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbeck, MD, MSC, FRCSC
President, New Brunswick Medical Society