ADDICTS PROGRAM KILLED

Doctors Want To Make Health Treatment For Users A 'Priority' As
Funding Dries Up

Edmonton's infectious disease doctors are calling on Capital Health to
treat the health of drug addicts as a "priority" after an inner-city
harm reduction project was scrapped.

The three-year $250,000 provincial Health Innovation Fund (HIF) grant
awarded to Capital Health expired in June and the program, run by
Streetworks, has since collapsed due to the authority's budget woes.

But a letter signed by 11 doctors - the entire non-management staff at
the University of Alberta's division of infectious disease - has now
been sent to Capital Health CEO Sheila Weatherill, calling on her to
revive the project.

"We think this is a basic health priority and should be considered a
public health priority, just like ensuring good quality of water or a
good vaccination program," said Dr. Stan Houston, director of the
northern Alberta HIV program and a member of Streetworks' governing
council.

The program paid for two nurses and two outreach workers to give
hepatitis A and B immunizations, test for diseases including HIV and
hepatitis C, and provide help with treatment, housing and health education.

Capital Health has budgeted for a $20.8-million deficit over the next
year and spokesman Ed Greenberg said the pressure on resources
continues to grow.

"This is something we feel is an important program and we are trying
to work with government to come up with possible solutions. What
happens next is part of our ongoing discussions with the (provincial)
government," he said.

But Alberta Health spokesman David Dear said the HIF is designed to
give only "seed money," so it's up to health authorities to fund
successful projects in the long term.

"I know that they have approached us over the past few weeks but our
response continues to be the same."

Streetworks program director Marliss Taylor said Capital Health's
failure to fund the program will eventually cost the authority more
money because infection rates will now soar.

"HIV and AIDS is going to go through the roof and then we are really
in the same boat as Vancouver," said Taylor.

"Certainly, the community has noticed. They are feeling as frustrated
as I am. You give something, then you take it away from the people who
can afford it the least."

Taylor said it generally costs from $150,000 a year to fund HIV
treatment for one person, so if the program prevents just two
infections a year, it's paying for itself.

"We are going to see a further impact on people's health in general,"
she said.

"Then we will see an impact on the budgets in emergency rooms,
long-term care facilities. It just drives me wild."

Edmonton Rutherford MLA Ian McClelland, chairman of the Capital Region
Tory caucus, said he thinks it's a worthwhile project but it's up to
Capital Health to foot the bill.

"Capital Health has the accountability and the authority and the
responsibility to manage their resources," he said.

"If they see this to be a worthy goal, then that's what managing is
all about."