A record $5.17 billion Health budget will be invested in health infrastructure, improving access to care and reducing wait times for surgery and diagnostic services for Saskatchewan people.
The 2016-17 Health budget is an increase of $57.4 million, or 1.1 per cent, over 2015-16.
“Our government is committed to providing Saskatchewan residents with access to timely and high-quality health services while ensuring the ongoing sustainability of the health system,” said Dustin Duncan, MLA for Weyburn-Big Muddy and Health Minister.
“Investing in cost-effective programs that deliver results for patients and communities continues to be a priority for the Ministry of Health.”
Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) will receive $3.4 billion for operating funding, an increase of 2.3 per cent over funding provided to RHAs last year, and a 56 per cent increase since 2007.
Sun Country’s Leadership team will review details of the provincial budget to finalize a regional operating budget for the fiscal year 2016-17.
“Sun Country Health Region received a slight overall increase in funding,” said Marga Cugnet, president and CEO of the Sun Country Health Region. This increase will cover increases in salary compensation, targeted operating dollars for the new CT and cataract surgery programs, a $50,000 increase in capital equipment funding, and a $136,000 increase for life safety/infrastructure such as roof replacements.
There was no increase for inflationary or service pressures in the budget.
The Sun Country Health Region will prepare a balanced budget with reduced administration costs, one that is cost-effective, efficient and provides quality patient-centred care. All health regions will be asked to redirect a portion of $7.5 million from administration costs to fund more front-line staff in long-term care facilities.
Details about the reduction in administration costs will be forthcoming from the province in the coming weeks. More detailed information will also be available from the province this summer about the transformational change being proposed in the near future. A special commissioner will be appointed to recommend options as to how to deliver services with fewer health regions.
Sun Country Regional Health Authority is expected to approve the 2016-17 operating budget before July 25. The public will be notified in advance of the date of that meeting.
Included is $20 million in additional funding to reduce surgical wait times. The demand for surgery continues to rise in Saskatchewan, with an estimated three per cent more surgeries needed in 2016-17. Surgical funding in 2016-17 will be above levels in the last two years.
“Saskatchewan has gone from the longest surgical wait times in Canada in 2007 to having the shortest wait times in 2015,” said Duncan.
“Unfortunately, we have seen wait times begin to creep back up a bit in recent months. This additional investment in surgeries should reverse that trend and ensure we continue to have the shortest wait times in the country.”
