Latest investment in private health care in P.E.I. raising concerns [Video]

The P.E.I. government’s decision to invest $25 million into for-profit long-term care facilities is raising concerns about the further privatization of the health-care system.

Currently, there is a mix of private and public long-term care facilities on P.E.I. The province said it needed to add 54 new long-term care beds as soon as possible, and the private sector could get the job done faster.

Pat Armstrong, a member of the Canadian Health Coalition who has written cautionary books on the privatization of health care, said the province should have invested in the public beds rather than turning to the private sector.

“Their objective is to make a profit and the money going to profit is not going to care,” Armstrong said.

Three years ago, an internal government report on long-term care found private homes paid workers less and provided fewer care options than public manors.

Michelle Neill, leader of the …