From left, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmell, Resident Dr. Piotr Oglaza and Board of Health Chair Maureen Piercy, February 7, 2018 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quine News)
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health has approved its 2018 budget which has been frozen by the provincial government for three years.
It represents a 1% hike in the levy for participating municipalities, Belleville, Quinte West. Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
Commenting on the $15.5 million budget Wednesday, Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmell says programs have been preserved as much as possible.
He welcomed money, an extra $150,000, to address the opioid crisis whereby the health unit supplies Naloxone to community partners such as the fire department and paramedics.
He said this will help during the budget freeze, since the opioid crisis is a “big stress point”.
Gemmell expressed concern about no increase in funding for the healthy babies in-home program.
The board approved $15,000 of non-government money to be transferred into that area.
#1 BABIES GEMMELL
And, he says the health unit will ask for extra money from the province if it wants the health unit to undertake a proposed vision testing program.
