Nova Scotia Health is under fire for discontinuing an online dashboard that provided critical information about the province's family doctor wait-list. The dashboard, which had not been updated since June, previously offered detailed insights into the number of individuals waiting for a family physician, including regional breakdowns and reasons for fluctuations in the list. With over 104,000 people currently seeking a family doctor, the removal of this resource has raised concerns about transparency and accountability.
The agency recently announced it would be contacting those on the wait-list to verify their contact information and gain a better understanding of their health needs. This initiative aims to inform residents about available care options in their communities. However, critics argue that the decision to take down the dashboard hampers the public's ability to track progress within the healthcare system.
The monthly updates released by Nova Scotia Health will continue but lack the detailed information that the online dashboard previously provided. Health Minister Michelle Thompson stated that these updates would still offer essential data regarding the wait-list, albeit in a more generalized format.
Political leaders have voiced their discontent over the government's actions, with Claudia Chender, the NDP Opposition Leader, calling it yet another move towards diminished accountability. She remarked on the broader implications of this decision, saying,
"It’s part of the pattern of secrecy and reduction in accountability we have seen from this government."
Chender emphasized the importance of accurate data, noting that many factors could affect the wait-list, including population changes and mortality rates. She asserted,
"People might move, they might have died. We don’t know and so the more information we can have the better we can understand if any progress is being made on health care."
The government's decision to quietly remove the dashboard comes on the heels of an omnibus bill that has drawn criticism from political observers and access to information experts. The Information Commissioner has urged Premier Tim Houston to amend this legislation to require permission before departments can deny access requests.
