Nova Scotia created a new government agency, the Department of Health Promotion and Protection to supervise its Health Care System. Two plans exist in this province which covers insured health services and are namely Hospital Insurance Plan and Medical Service Insurance Plan. The Hospital Insurance Plan entitle all residents of the province to receive insured hospital services from hospitals on uniform terms and conditions which covers the Insured Hospital, In-patient, and Out-patient services and are discussed in the succeeding paragraphs.
The insured hospital services are delivered through nine District Health Authorities and the IWK health center. At present more than 35 facilities are being provided in these health centers. In-patient services include hospitalization necessities such as accommodation and means at the standard ward level; nursing services; laboratory, radiological and other diagnostic procedures; drugs, biological procedures and related preparations; routine surgical supplies; use of operating room, case room and anesthetic facilities, radiotherapy and physiotherapy services; and, blood or therapeutic blood fractions.
Out-patient services, on one hand, include laboratory and radiological examinations; diagnostic procedures involving the sue of radio-pharmaceuticals; EEG examinations; use of occupational and physiotherapy facilities; nursing services; drugs and related preparations; blood or therapeutic blood fractions; hospital services in connection with most minor medical and surgical procedures; day-patient diabetic care; ultrasonic diagnostic procedures; and others as specified by the plan.
The Medical Service Insurance Program is governed by Medavie Blue cross on behalf of Nova Scotia government. There will no premium payment but Nova Scotia health card should be carried at all times when the eligible residents go for treatment. Nova Scotia health insurance program is designed to provide hospital, medical, dental and optometric services with some restrictions as deemed necessary by abiding laws.