NDP bungle could cost Dal med school accreditation
posted:
May 12 2010d'Entremont, Chris
HALIFAX – An error in paperwork has cost the doctor training program at Dalhousie University’s medical school $2.5-million in funding, and could end up costing the school its accreditation.
“This was a massive miscalculation from the government that could end up having serious ramifications for the Maritimes only medical school,” said Progressive Conservative Health Critic Chris d’Entremont. “At a time when Nova Scotians are pleading for more doctors to be trained, this $2.5-million cut in funding sends us backward.”
Dalhousie University learned of the multi-million dollar funding cut to the medical school when the NDP unveiled their second budget in April. The school is currently on probation over its curriculum, and the loss of such substantial funding could further displease accreditors.
Health Minister Maureen MacDonald is blaming the funding cut on “extraordinarily complex” paperwork, an excuse that rings hollow with d’Entremont, a former Health Minster.
“Government has successfully provided funding to the medical school for years without an error of this magnitude occurring,” said d’Entremont. “This government needs to step up the effort to fix the situation and ensure Dalhousie has the funding it needs to continue to train and license doctors.”
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For more information, please contact:
Sarah Reeves, Communications Officer
Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Caucus
902.424.7723 (office)
902.476.4167 (mobile)
