Saskatchewan and Alberta have put pen to paper on a renewed memorandum of understanding for health services in the Lloydminster area.
At a virtual signing Monday, Alberta Minister of Health Tyler Shandro and Saskatchewan Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Everett Hindley each signed the MOU for the delivery of health services in the Lloydminster area.
This is the renewal of an MOU first signed in 2014 to collaborate on an integrated approach on delivering services in Lloydminster, including shared planning and enhanced accountability. The two provinces also committed to share information and resolve issues, and explore joint opportunities.
“Today along with Minister Shandro, I am proud to find a new memorandum of understanding for the provision of health services in the Lloydminster area,” said Hindley, appearing from Regina.
The previous MOU expired in July 2019. According to the province’s news release, under the renewed MOU both Alberta and Saskatchewan agreed to collaborate in planning and funding of health services delivered within a 150-kilometre radius of the city of Lloydminster.
“We’ve made a lot of progress since the initial MOU. A bi-provincial health services committee has helped to address issues of concern to the community. We have improved health information sharing and implemented dual physician licensing as a couple of the examples of some of the achievements thus far,” Hindley said.
Hindley said committee, which was set up under the old MOU and kept on meeting even after it had expired, will continue its work to strengthen health services in the region. He said the committee will focus on advanced infrastructure funding, mental health investments and dialysis expansion and relocation.
The MOU “represents an effective framework of our governments to partner and addressing the health and service needs of Lloydminster today, but also into the future,” said Hindley.
“Lloydminster is truly unique. It is a municipality that is situated between two provinces, and area residents expect and they deserve access to high-quality health care services regardless of provincial borders,” Shandro said, appearing from Calgary.
“Our renewed MOU with Saskatchewan furthers the provision of seamless integrated health care services to citizens in both of our jurisdictions.”
