New Brunswick Health Coalition
News Release - For Immediate Release
July 21, 2009

New Brunswick Health Coalition pleased with Shawn Graham’s
decision to stop private diagnostic clinics in the province

‘’We are very much pleased that our premier Shawn Graham has decided to stop discussions with a private company to install private diagnostic clinics,’’ says Debbie Lacelle, co-chair of the NB Health Coalition.

‘’This decision is a step in the right direction and is certainly a welcome one compared to the position of the former Minister of Health Mike Murphy who was pushing for more private involvement in our public system,’’ continues Mr. Doiron.

The NB Health Coalition has been lobbying for the last two years to convince the then Minister of Health to address problems of the health system inside the public system instead of looking at privatizing our services.

‘’The private companies who are interested in opening private diagnostic clinics or any kind of clinics for that matter are doing it to make money. They can talk about partnerships, bringing new technology or giving better quality services, but the bottom line for them is making a profit. The end result would be a transfer of our tax dollars, public monies, into private hands and leave our public system less able to provide these services to the general population without added costs’’ says Ms Lacelle.

‘’We hope our Premier will also stop any discussions with any other private companies to open private-for-profit health clinics’’, concludes Mr. Doiron

For information:

Debbie Lacelle- co-chair: 1-800-442-4420
Roger Doiron, co- chair: 523-9867 (home); 523-3280 (cell)