Provincial health plan released
Press Release
October 8, 2025
SAINT JOHN – The government has released a provincial health plan, Caring for New Brunswick: Putting People at the Heart of Healthcare.
The five-year plan lays out priorities for the health system and sets the direction for those delivering care to New Brunswickers.
“Every New Brunswicker should have access to the care they need, when and where they need it,” said Premier Susan Holt. “This health plan outlines how we will deliver on our commitments: bringing collaborative care clinics to New Brunswickers across the province; retaining and recruiting the health-care professionals we need; ensuring seniors are able to age with dignity and get choice in their care; and providing timely access to the mental health services that we know are needed.”
The plan outlines goals and how progress will be measured in six priority areas: primary care, workforce, seniors, mental health and addictions, acute care and connected care.
The plan sets out several key goals, which include people having:
- Equitable and appropriate access to quality primary care services.
- A supported and sustainable health-care workforce.
- Support and resources for seniors to achieve the best possible health outcomes and allow them to age in place.
- Effective support for mental health concerns, treatment and recovery.
- Access to surgery when it is needed.
- Reduced effects from cancer.
- Co-ordinated, timely and personalized care through a fully integrated digital health ecosystem.
“This plan focuses on the concerns and priorities we’ve heard from New Brunswickers, the commitments we’ve made to them, and the areas where we believe we can truly make a difference,” said Health Minister John Dornan. “We’ve already acted on areas of this plan to help us achieve these goals, such as investing in the establishment of several family health teams and issuing retention payments to nurses. We will continue to act to respond to the challenges with upcoming initiatives outlined in the plan. We’re also treating this plan as a living framework that will evolve in response to the needs, ideas and realities of New Brunswickers.”
The government is committing to ongoing engagement with individuals and groups across the province, including patients, families, Indigenous communities, under-represented populations and health-care providers.
“We will also continue to engage with New Brunswickers across the province to listen and make sure that decisions and work are shaped by evidence and real-life experiences,” said Dornan. “By working together, validating our progress, and adjusting our approach when gaps are identified, we can create a health-care system that is more inclusive, responsive and effective for all.”
Each priority area in the plan includes clear measures that will track progress, ensure accountability and guide adjustments as needed.
The provincial health plan is available online.
Media Contact(s)
Meghan Cumby, communications, Department of Health, meghan.cumby@gnb.ca.
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