{"id":814391,"date":"2024-12-24T01:20:43","date_gmt":"2024-12-24T07:20:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/24\/ottawa-public-health-funding-not-keeping-up-with-demand\/"},"modified":"2024-12-24T01:20:43","modified_gmt":"2024-12-24T07:20:43","slug":"ottawa-public-health-funding-not-keeping-up-with-demand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/24\/ottawa-public-health-funding-not-keeping-up-with-demand\/","title":{"rendered":"Ottawa Public Health funding not keeping up with demand"},"content":{"rendered":"<article aria-labelledby=\"articleTitle\" data-wcm-id=\"fed9f101-d4c0-480d-ab35-6fdf9f1910fa\">\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Ottawa\u2019s board of health approved a budget that will allow Ottawa Public Health to avoid cuts, but financial pressures mount.<\/p>\n<p><span> Get the latest from Elizabeth Payne straight to your inbox <\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span>Published Dec 03, 2024<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>Last updated Dec 05, 2024<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>3 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=ITR6IrqF26fCVrn9Ku8wAQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=nWtaUvZ-crCytrhhWqavWQ 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=NuMw8-DJjIyt7kjHM9Ed6A, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=VnOvXt5oAvPxfn4TxaEmrA 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=eHl6hn9CPTPbCgMKrUfaYw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=dpsSv1OZSohv3qI7kBhUHw 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=mj5T3geTu2a4APpMGCS-Hw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=58aPYpENiphSxL36TnQ-AQ 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=3az2uMk8ALaFB5nXNgANYg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=fbsuLQRjUatJUVrNB5aqJg 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dr. Vera Etches, Medical Officer of Health for Ottawa Public Health, poses for a photo at city hall in this file photo.\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=6saHt9CGiays2cpJ1jJNyw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=6saHt9CGiays2cpJ1jJNyw,\n                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ottbudgetdec6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;sig=LIP3bxBi88v1OL2f_bZleg 2x\" height=\"750\" width=\"1000\"><\/picture><figcaption><span>Dr. Vera Etches, Medical Officer of Health for Ottawa Public Health, poses for a photo at city hall in this file photo.<\/span> <span>Photo by Tony Caldwell<\/span> \/<span>Postmedia<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Ottawa\u2019s board of health approved an $82.7-million budget this week that will allow Ottawa Public Health to offer its core services with the help of a one-time stabilization funding boost from the city and some money from reserves.<\/p>\n<p>But financial pressures continue, said Ottawa\u2019s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Vera Etches. Among the pressures are ongoing difficulties keeping up with the growing demand for public health inspections as well as the \u201cburden of infectious diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async id=\"article-block\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ottawa Citizen\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/17.6.4\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-oc-new.svg\" width=\"280\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office.<\/li>\n<li>Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office.<\/li>\n<li>Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div data-auth-component id=\"auth-screen-form\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<h2>Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span><\/span><span>or<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year OPH said it would need at least six additional public health inspectors to comply with current Ontario public health standards. OPH said it has been able to maintain its program by prioritizing risks. The need for inspections of restaurants, food processing operations and personal services, such as tattoo parlours, have been increasing and growing more complex in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll of our programs are at the point that we are operating out of an area of extreme efficiency,\u201d Etches said. \u201cTo think about future growth to meet growing public health needs is not possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While OPH is not cutting any programs or services for next year, \u201call of our programs are affected due to lack of growth and revenue,\u201d said Mohammad Kibria, manager of business development and support services at Ottawa Public Health.<\/p>\n<p>He said public health has had to adopt \u201cdiverse strategies,\u201d including a service review in 2023 and prioritizing areas that need more investment, such as public health inspections, because of chronic underfunding which has not kept up with inflation, population growth or demand, Kibria said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div aria-labelledby=\"OttawaCitizenEveningUpdate1886910667174460629111189738094592\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-aqa=\"widget-newsletter\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component data-target-list=\"OC_Covid19_Newsletter\" data-widget=\"newsletter\">\n<p>By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>OPH is working on a long-term financial stability plan, Kibria said.<\/p>\n<p>Board member Rawlson King, who is city councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe ward, said Ottawa Public Health needed stable provincial funding that kept up with inflation and demand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know that only 6.2 full-time equivalency positions have been added over 14 years, despite the significant population growth in Ottawa. Despite the fact that we are not seeing the necessary investments from the province, it is really a testament to the dexterity of the staff at OPH and the work that they are putting in to ensure that there is still a sufficient amount of service delivery despite the underfunding,\u201d King said,<\/p>\n<p>King supported the budget, but said the board should continue to advocate for more dollars from the province, something health board and OPH officials are doing.<\/p>\n<p>The Ontario government is reviewing the way it funds public health. On Monday, it introduced legislation that, among other things, allows the voluntary amalgamation of nine public health units into four organizations. Three Eastern Ontario public health units \u2014 Hastings &#038; Prince Edward Counties Health Unit, the Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox &#038; Addington Health Unit and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit would become the South East Health Unit \u2014 under the plan.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Etches also said she was confident that OPH would be able to respond to any unexpected public health emergencies, with the support of the city and the provincial government. Many public health officials around the globe are eyeing the increase in cases of avian influenza, in animals, domestic and wild and in people, with growing concern as a potential pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Etches continued to encourage anyone six months and older to get COVID-19 and flu vaccines ahead of the holidays. Vaccines are available at pharmacies and from physicians and nurse-practitioners, but OPH also offers them for children under five and people who have difficulty accessing them.<\/p>\n<p>She said overdose prevention and response will continue to be a priority for OPH into 2025, especially with the announced closure of the Somerset West Community Health Centre\u2019s consumption and treatment site in March.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe community is very concerned about the area near the treatment services that will remain open and is concerned about what will happen to the people who use the current Somerset West consumption treatment site now,\u201c Etches said.<\/p>\n<p>Community health partners and OPH are working to provide \u201cimmediate, short-term supports to mitigate the potential impact resulting from the closure, while we know we need longer-term solutions as well,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p data-async><i data-olk-copy-source=\"MailCompose\">Our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark our homepage and<span>\u00a0<\/span><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"sign up for our newsletters\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/ottawacitizen.com\/newsletters\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" data-linkindex=\"20\" data-loopstyle=\"linkonly\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawacitizen.com\/newsletters\/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/ottawacitizen.com\/newsletters\/\">sign up for our newsletters<\/a>\u00a0so we can keep you informed.<\/i><\/p>\n<section 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Get the latest from Elizabeth Payne straight to your inbox Published Dec 03, 2024 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated Dec 05, 2024 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read Dr. Vera Etches, Medical Officer of Health for Ottawa Public Health<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":814392,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23413,120],"tags":[11970,5973],"class_list":{"0":"post-814391","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ottawa","8":"category-public","9":"tag-ottawa","10":"tag-public"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/814391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=814391"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/814391\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/814392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=814391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=814391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=814391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}