Message from the Minister and Accountability Statement

It is my privilege to present the 2004/05 Annual Service Plan Report for the Ministry of Health Services. This report describes the changes and improvements that have put our health system back on a sustainable track, and positioned us to deliver the best outcomes for the citizens of this province.

British Columbia's health system is in better shape today than 2001, the year we began fundamental reforms to improve patient care. This improvement can be measured in many ways. Organizationally, we restructured the administration of health care from 52 health authorities to six, a change that has led to more integrated planning and efficient management. We have increased health funding every year, improved accountability in the system and balanced the budgets for the ministry and the health authorities.

These structural changes have created a strong foundation. And through this foundation we have improved access to care, integration of services and providers, and outcomes for patients. British Columbia is at the forefront of innovation in Canadian health care. Our pharmaceutical pricing and chronic disease management approaches lead the country, while our cancer treatment network continues to contribute to British Columbians having the best cancer outcomes in Canada. We've invested across the continuum of care to deliver evidence-based, best practice health services that better meet people's needs. For example, we've modernized residential care to increase independence for seniors, and enhanced important services like BC NurseLine to ensure citizens have access to health information and advice when they need it.

In September 2004, British Columbia played a leading role in negotiating a new health deal for Canada. The First Ministers' Ten Year Agreement to Strengthen Health Care will increase federal funding for health services over the next decade. However, new funding alone cannot eliminate the challenges we face in making the health system sustainable over the long-term. We must continue to redesign the delivery of services to meet the growing demands for increasingly complex and expensive care.

The work of the past four years has left British Columbia well positioned to meet the challenges of sustainability. We will continue to work with the thousands of dedicated health professionals across the province to improve quality and increase capacity within the resources available. We will build on the foundation we have set, and make new investments across the continuum of health services to help people stay healthy, and provide them with top quality care when they do get sick.

This 2004/05 Ministry of Health Services Annual Service Plan Report compares the actual results to the expected results identified in the ministry's 2004/05 Service Plan. I am accountable for those results as reported.

Honourable Shirley Bond
Minister of Health Services

June 14, 2005