On the June 12, 2012 CKNW Bill Good Show, Dr. Roland Orfaly of the B.C. Anesthesiologists' Society made reference to purported statistics on administrative spending in health. Some of these statistics are posted on their website.

CLAIM: This year in British Columbia we will spend $1.39 billion dollars on health care "administration"

• The independent Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) lists projected Provincial Government spending on administration for 2011 at $111.3 million - the lowest spending on administration since 1989.

CLAIM: BC's budget for administration in health care has increased by $303 million (28%) over the last three years.

• CIHI reports that Provincial Government spending on administration has dropped from $190.2 million in 2008 to a projected $111.3 million in 2011.

CLAIM: BC compares poorly to other provinces in Canada.  On a per capita basis, BC spends 20% more than Alberta and 24% more than Ontario on health administration.

• The anesthesiologists are using the total administrative costs per province (including private and public sector spending). Looking at Public Sector spending from CIHI's report - B.C. spends $58.80 per capita on administration - less than Alberta ($69.39 per capita) and Ontario ($60.47 per capita).

CLAIM: Back in the 1980's, St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver had 6 administrators and 475 inpatient beds.  Today, St. Paul's Hospital has 380 administrators and only 325 inpatient beds.

• St. Paul's Hospital currently has 451 inpatient beds.  Administration spending for Providence Health Care is at the lowest percentage in its history.

CLAIM: In the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, there is more than one administrator for each and every inpatient.

• CIHI lists Vancouver Coastal Health's administrative costs at 3.4% - significantly lower than the Canadian average.

Media contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (Media line)

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