Centralizing control over hospitals. Ontario brings the market to hospital funding and turns it into a PR opportunity
Well, we found out a little bit more about where the government's hospital funding is going with the announcement of $100 million for 'payment for results' funding yesterday. And it pretty much summed up what's wrong with this approach. First: unlike global funding (set at a mighty 1.5% or less ) this funding is centrally controlled. Local hospitals have to spend it as directed by the central government, whatever local needs actually are. Second: the government (and local Liberal MPPs) primarily see these announcements as a media opportunity, parading it to the media as their latest accomplishment. If you keep everybody guessing where the money is going and when it is coming, you can always manufacture a media story. Think of a manipulative and stingy Santa Claus. Moreover, this model favours whatever item is politically expedient at the moment. How can the government get headlines? So much for a rational process focused on human needs. Third: The mo