What Are Hospitals Spending on?
Recent data released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) from 2020-2021 regarding hospital spending puts “Compensation” at a staggering 63.3%, followed by “Supplies” at distant second at 11.4%. With an annual growth rate at 4% of total hospital spending since 2005.
See the data here: https://t.ly/blLMi
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The staggering percentage of compensation is not surprising as historically, compensation tops the list of healthcare expenditures. However, as the data was taken during the pandemic (2020-2021), the data showed an upward trend of hospital harm, as well, health care facilities relied heavily on overtime and agency nurses during the pandemic.
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See the data here: https://t.ly/WGo_k
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What is troubling though is the inability to harness the strength of the healthcare workforce. This is evident on the staggering rate of “compensation” being paid to personnel to manage the health systems– particularly the CEOs, high-level bureaucrats and managers making decisions for their healthcare facilities utilizing a top-down approach. The low-hanging fruit, the benevolent healthcare heroes, who are in the frontlines who battled through the pandemic within the already battered healthcare system gets the bare minimum of compensation.
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If those high-paying CEOs, high-level bureaucrats and managers were able to deliver the goods, the outcome would have been better, i.e., more nurses are at the bedside, less complaints of stress and burn-out and nurses are staying longer and retiring later. But the opposite is happening. More pay and bonuses for CEOs and less pay for the healthcare heroes.
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There is a fundamental flaw on how the healthcare system is structured. Something does not really adds up.
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The Creation of Nursing Fund
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The federal government through the Prime Minister Office, Health Canada and Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister appears to be an easy keeper for the taxpayers coffers. The Federal government should be more firm and making the Provinces and Territories more accountable with their responsibilities for healthcare delivery within their jurisdiction.
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Last year, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau somehow “cave-in” to the demand of the previous Manitoba Premier, Heather Stefanson to increase the Canada transfer Payment but instead the Prime Minister agreed on topping up the Equalization Payment, see news here: https://t.ly/toUZV
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Not only it appears to be a “freebie” but it is the right thing to do from the standpoint of offering assistance to those “needy province” like Manitoba. But in the same token, Provinces and Territories should engage in a “deep-wrenching” innovative solution to address the chronic dysfunction of our healthcare system.
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The next federal election appears to be gaining steam as the New Year is upon us. And there is a strong consensus among former and retired nurses in Manitoba in lobbying for all levels of government to “enshrined nurses” within the framework on provincial and federal legislation for the creation of a Nursing Fund..
These former and retired nurses are “Reclaiming their Voices.” The present workplace culture and the tone in Manitoba, are centred around the “collective silence of nurses,” by a dominant nursing union who wants to be the only “Voice” for the nurses; the toxic workplace culture were speaking up is frowned upon and the proliferation of “enablers” who perpetrate the workplace are commonplace.
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These emerging sentiments are quietly gaining traction among former and retired nurses in Manitoba. These nurses are lobbying for the creation of a “Nursing Fund,” in a similar function to Veterans Affairs Canada– where current and former war veterans have a long-term financial and wellness support from the federal government. If the development and creation of the Nursing Fund gets the support from both the provincial and federal governments, this will signal the acknowledgement of the great contribution of nurses into the well-being of Canadians. This initiative will boost the morale of the nurses who are still active in the workforce, as well, sends a message to those who wants to get into the nursing profession and to the new nursing grads that they are listened and appreciated for their invaluable contribution to the Canadian society.
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Currently, nurses pay Union dues and exorbitant license fees to health regulator(s), particularly to the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) Although, nurses get rebates during tax filling. But no support is afforded to the nurses once they retire, i.e., long-term financial and wellness support programs. These nurses are willing to contribute for the Nursing Fund. And even suggesting to levy to union dues and license fees paid to health regulators and the levied funds will go towards the creation of the Nursing Fund.
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Key here is the concerted effort between the federal and provincial governments to form a Working Group and study about the feasibility of the creation of a Nursing Fund.
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Not only this is a good political endeavour but this is the right thing to do, to heavily invest in the healthcare workforce.
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“There is a fundamental flaw on how the healthcare system is structured. Something does not really adds up.”
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To read the recent letter sent to the Manitoba Premier, Wab Kinew, articulating our desire for the creation of the Nursing Fund is found here:
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