Nova Scotia not ready for swine-flu pandemic

Nova Scotia does not have an adequate stockpile of medical supplies to protect health-care workers and respond effectively to the swine-flu pandemic, the province's auditor general says.

Jacques Lapointe released a report Thursday that finds the province should have spent $6-million more to buy surgical masks and gloves for health-care workers and stockpile Tamiflu — as specified in the 2006 pandemic plan.

"The province has not taken steps to ensure that it has an adequate stockpile of medical and other supplies needed  for an effective pandemic response," Lapointe said at a news conference Thursday at Province House.

The Health Department and nine district health authorities did not request the money soon enough, Lapointe found, and even though cabinet has now approved the expenditure, they're scrambling to find supplies.

For example, Nova Scotia recently tried to order one million surgical masks, and the supplier said it would be 12 to 18 months before that order could be filled.

The largest district, Capital Health, does have agreements with its own suppliers, Lapointe found, but other districts, such as Pictou, are relying on an inadequate provincial stockpile.

 Lapointe said this is a symptom of a bigger problem.

"This deficiency perhaps illustrates the types of gaps that occur under unclear leadership and poor co-ordination," he said.

Considerable time and effort have gone into preparations, he said, but several areas still require work to ensure an effective response.

Lapointe said the province lacks a single agency to co-ordinate the government's response.

He is urging Premier Darrell Dexter to immediately name a lead department to command and co-ordinate the province’s response to the swine flu.

Not all government agencies have submitted plans, Lapointe said, nor have the Health Department and the Department of Health Protection and Promotion reviewed the pandemic plans of district health authorities.

Plans to keep the province’s roads open and fire departments staffed must be reviewed, Lapointe said.

He also recommends that EMO be given responsibility to ensure non-government agencies such as Bell Aliant and Nova Scotia Power are prepared.

Lapointe released his report four months early because of his concerns over the province’s handling of the public health issue.

But, he said, Nova Scotians should not be unduly alarmed.

"I believe our findings in this audit should instill urgency in government, rather than alarm in Nova Scotians," Lapointe said.

A Cape Breton woman who worked in a nursing home died last week from swine flu.

There have been 456 confirmed cases of the virus in Nova Scotia since the outbreak began in April. Ten people have been treated in hospital.