VIHA BALANCES COMPETING DEMANDS

The Vancouver Island Health Authority does recognize growing needs in
mental health and addictions services.

In fact, there has been a 20-percent increase in detox services in
the past three years and our long-term planning includes the addition
of more than 300 supported housing units for mental health and
addiction services clients.

But the health authority has to balance the needs of all areas in the
health care system.

VIHA is proud to have health care professionals passionate about
providing the best care possible and any of them will likely tell you
the greatest need for increased resources is in the area they work in.

The same goes for patients. Someone waiting for a joint replacement,
for cancer treatment or for cardiac care, will surely tell you that's
where VIHA should be investing its resources.

Our budgeting process involves looking at all areas of health service
delivery and VIHA faces a difficult task of balancing competing
demands. Our budget process involves front-line physicians in setting
priorities.

While the societal issues caused by addiction are serious, they are
issues that VIHA alone cannot tackle.

Any chance we have of reducing the harms caused by misuse of drugs
and alcohol must involve a targeted approach from many agencies,
including all levels of government, police and our community partners.

Howard Waldner,

President,

Vancouver Island

Health Authority.