We aren't where we need to be yet but according to the numbers we're making progress.
The latest provincial wait times statistics show that 79 per cent of patients are having their surgery within three months of their referral from a surgeon and 91 per cent within six months.
The goal, says Health Minister Dustin Duncan, is to offer surgeries to all patients within three months by April 2014. "We still have a lot of work ahead but we are committed to shorter wait times and improved quality of life for patients."
As of June 30, there were 6,030 patients waiting more than three months for surgery. The number seems high but apparently it's a decrease of 61 per cent (or 9,315 fewer patients) compared to the start of the Initiative in April 2010 where more than 15,000 patients were waiting more than three months.
It's good the list is shortening but hopefully with more effort nobody will find themselves waiting.
The province announced it has committed $70.5 million to improve access to surgery in the 2013-14 fiscal year. About 89,000 surgeries will be performed in Saskatchewan this year, an increase of 7,000 from last year.
Let's put that money to good use and make this province finish first - as it does in many other areas - when it comes to health care as well. After all, if we don't have our health, what really do we have?
