The decision was influenced after the Ministry of Health announced plans to strengthen the public health sector in August by offering one-time funding, resources and support to local public health agencies that decide to merge by Jan. 1.
“The province has informed us they have a three-year merger support fund,” said Dr. Natalie Bocking, HKPR medical officer of health. “The amount of that fund has not been disclosed and so we don’t know what the province has put aside to be available for those health units that are merging.”
Bocking adds that the total sum could be teased over the coming weeks. There would be an increase in funding even if the health units were unsuccessful or opted not to merge.
“All health units have been informed that we should expect a one percent base increase from the province in the next three years, in the absence of mergers for the health units that will not be merging of which there are many,” she explained.
Last November, a Joint Board Merger Exploration Working Group was established with representatives from both health units and external consulting firm Sense & Nous to prepare a comprehensive Feasibility Assessment Report according to a press release. These findings were recently presented to both Boards of Health for consideration to help make an informed decision.
Both Bocking and Dr. Thomas Piggott, PPH medical officer of health agreed that all funding aside, the merger had several benefits between the two organizations.
“The primary benefit is going to be strength in numbers and strength in capacity and size across a larger geography,” said Piggott. “It means that our critical capacity could potentially be improved. There’s a lot of opportunity to improve the strength of our programs and services.”
“There will be some time found when we look at streamlining of services and some efficiencies found,” said Bocking. “We will be able to put that time and any efficiencies found into additional programs and services.”
