PC Leader Tim Hudak says his party would streamline health care bureaucracies, boost mental health services and bring more competition to the health sector if the Tories win the June 12 election.

The changes are part of the Tory platform unveiled Wednesday that aims to balance the books in two years. The plan would see a public sector wage freeze, cuts to education and the broader public sector and other measures to trim spending.

But the platform also commits the party to $2 billion worth of new health care initiatives by 2017-2018.

"We have tremendously dedicated, skilled health care professionals," Hudak told a news conference. "They're run off their feet. But our system isn't working for them.

"We're going to put the patient at the centre of our health system, not health bureaucrats. We're going to treat chronic care as the challenge it is of the 21st century, and we'll make mental health a priority in our system."

In the 2012 report by economist Don Drummond - a blueprint used by Hudak for many of his balanced-budget policy moves - revamping local health networks and breaking down "bureaucratic silos" in health care would save between $4 billion to $6 billion a year.

The minority Liberal government earmarked more than $50 billion in health care spending in its failed May 1 budget, making health the biggest line item in the budget, with 42 per cent of overall spending.

The health ministry has expanded home care, tried to streamline hospital care, expanded preventive health and set up a Health Links program to better co-ordinate care outside hospitals.

The Tory platform doesn't suggest widespread changes to those current policies, but focuses on streamlining bureaucracy, mainly local health integration networks and others who never see a patient. "We will put local health care decision making in the hands of front-line professionals who care for you in your community," the PCs promise.

The party also wants to:

Put a new focus on treating chronic care diseases like diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer's.
Expand the availability of home care and long-term care.
Give patients more choice in the health care they get through OHIP-insured service. For example, people getting housekeeping or personal support help would be allowed to buy their own homecare and the rely on government purchased service.

The Tories would also increase competition for hospital cafeteria and MRI services and expand specialty clinics for dialysis and routine surgeries.

Citing the work done by Tory Christine Elliott on mental health, Hudak said a Tory government would put a special emphasis on mental health. "We will make mental health care a priority. It is high time we took mental health care out of the shadows of our health care system and into the full light of day. There's no reason why a disorder of the brain is less legitimate than leg surgery or heart surgery."

Tories would boost health, especially for mental illness

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