The Nova Scotia Department of Health, the district health authorities and the IWK have a shared mission to work together to empower individuals, families, partners, and communities to promote, improve and maintain the health of Nova Scotians through a proactive and sustainable health care system.
The Department of Health sets strategic direction for the health system through:
- Direction and support of health transformation initiatives
- Funding to district health authorities and provincial programs, including ground and air ambulance programs
- Development and support of provincial programs and initiatives
- Administration of continuing care services, the Senior’s Pharmacare Program and the Family Pharmacare Program
- Policy, legislation and standards
Nova Scotia's health services are delivered by nine district health authorities and the IWK. These health authorities deliver health care services to residents and are responsible for all hospitals, community health services, mental health services and public health programs in their districts.
Featured Story
Bursaries Offered to French-speaking Nurses - French-speaking nursing students will have extra incentive to begin their careers in Nova Scotia.
The Department of Health is offering bursaries to students and recent graduates of nursing programs who have completed, or are completing, their final term of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program or Licensed Practical Nurse program.
The department is committed to providing more patient care in French to the province's Acadian and francophone communities.
This bursary program is designed to help attract nurses with these valuable language skills to work in areas of the province that have been identified as having the highest concentration of French-speaking Nova Scotians.
The bursaries have a value of $4,000 for registered nurse graduates and $2,000 for licensed practical nurse graduates. They will be awarded to students who are hired in one of the five district health authorities identified as having the greatest need. Nurses will receive the bursary after being hired and will be required to work in Nova Scotia for one year.
Students interested in the bursary can find out more information and download application forms on the Health Team Nova Scotia website at www.healthteamnovascotia.ca/nurses/bursaries.html.
News Releases
- Province to Begin Funding Cancer Drug
- NOTE: A list of key dates and details for the Avastin implementation plan follows this release. Eligible Nova Scotians suffering from metastatic colorectal cancer will now have the drug Avastin publicly funded. - 2008/08/15 - 10:22
- Bourses offertes aux infirmières francophones
- Les infirmières francophones auront une raison de plus pour débuter leur carrière en Nouvelle-Écosse. - 2008/08/14 - 09:07
- Bursaries Offered to French-speaking Nurses
- French-speaking nursing students will have extra incentive to begin their careers in Nova Scotia. - 2008/08/14 - 09:06
- Government Seeks Input on Personal Health Information Legislation
- The province is inviting the public and health organizations to offer ideas about the protection and use of personal health information. - 2008/08/06 - 13:07
- Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Medals Awarded
- Three Nova Scotia paramedics were presented the Exemplary Service Medal for Emergency Medical Services by Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis, today, Aug. 5, at Province House. - 2008/08/05 - 14:07

