Islanders will see a dramatic turnaround in our healthcare system through a seven-point plan to be implemented within the first 180 days of a Liberal government, PEI Liberal Leader Sharon Cameron announced today. 

“Health care is a fundamental right, and every PEI resident deserves access to quality health services,” said Cameron. “We promise to reform the system and increase access to care for all Islanders within the first 180 days of a new Liberal government.” 

In addition to our commitment to immediately enacting the New Patients’ Rights Act that gives Islanders legal rights when it comes to timely access to healthcare services, the Liberals will immediately implement the following measures to make the system work better for residents: 

1. Any Islander who has not been able to see a family doctor in the last six months will have access to publicly funded virtual care. 
2. Every Islander will have access to online mental health counselling services. 
3. The number of mental health walk-in clinics and mobile mental health units will be doubled. 
4. Our 55 community pharmacies will start to deliver new services to Islanders, including diabetes management, contraceptive management, and smoking cessation programs. 
5. Doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners licensed to practice in other Canadian provinces and territories can immediately be licensed to practice in PEI. 
6. Return to the negotiations with the PEI Nurses Union to work out a fair contract recognizing the essential role of nurses in the healthcare system, including measures to retain existing nurses and bring retired nurses back into practice. 
7. Every new medical resident entering the PEI medical residency program will be required to practice in PEI for a minimum of three years. 

“There are too many people on PEI waiting for care,” said Cameron. “We’ve waited far too long for the PC government to take leadership and make the necessary reforms to health care. We’re going to take bold action immediately to improve health services and increase access to care for Islanders as we work towards a healthier and stronger province.”