By Mario deSantis, November 14, 1999

Brian Rourke, the supreme asset of the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations, has recently opened his mouth and murmured that more health money is needed on behalf of health districts(1). As a proof of the underfunding of healthcare, Rourke cited the continuous shrinking of the districts reserves over the last five years. These reserves were $123 million in 1995 and now they are less than $90 million.

After masterminding along with Saskatchewan Health the disastrous SHIN(2) project, Rourke is breaking his strategic alliance with the government and blaming the government for underfunding healthcare(3). Rourke believes that 40% of public expenditures into healthcare are not enough, and he provides us with an additional proof by citing the shrinking of the districts reserves. I wonder if Rourke can tell us how he was able to count the shrinkage of the districts reserves; did he use a hand held calculator or maybe a computer or maybe it was a mental team effort of the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organization(4)?

I remember in the late eighties when the balance sheet of a health care facility was perpetually carrying as an asset an account named "feasibility study" which was already expended. The mentality of our leaders has not changed yet, instead to create wealth we are looking for any opportunity, be big or finite, to beg for never ending handouts and the work of Brian Rourke is an excellent example.

Endnotes

1. Proof more health money needed - SAHO head, CBC Saskatchewan, http://www.sask.cbc.ca/ Web Posted | Nov 12 1999 9:25 AM EST

2. Saskatchewan Health Information Network-SHIN: Ignoring its mandate and diverting money for the Y2K Nightmare, by Mario deSantis, November 3, 1999

3. Healthcare in Saskatchewan: Getting ready for re-reengineering and shifting the blame, by Mario deSantis, October 31, 1999

4. Never Enough Money For SAHO, by Mario deSantis, March 31, 1999