B.C. spends little on healthy living, disease prevention despite its priority status, says AG report

VICTORIA – B.C.’s auditor general says the province spends less than five per cent of its annual $15.5 billion health-care budget on population wellness and disease prevention despite a healthy-living theme touted by the provincial government.

John Doyle’s report highlights how little was spent on population health and wellness programs even though the well-being of British Columbians has been a major focus in every government throne speech since 2008.

Doyle’s report says Health Ministry expenditures for promoting health and disease prevention was $536 million during the 2011-12 fiscal year.

His report says B.C. spends almost 40 per cent of its total budget on health care, with acute care costs reaching $7.4 billion annually.

The report isn’t a traditional audit, but was designed to help the public and legislators understand where health-care dollars are being spent.

Doyle’s ongoing status as auditor general has been the focus of much political debate lately after an all-party government committee decided not to renew his six-year contract, but Premier Christy Clark stepped in and promised to amend legislation that could extend Doyle’s term.