HEALTH BUDGET INVESTS IN QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SASKATCHEWAN PEOPLE

A record $4.84 billion investment in health care for 2013-14 will continue to reduce surgical wait times and improve the quality of life for Saskatchewan people.

The investment marks a $162 million or 3.5 per cent increase over last year’s health budget.  In total, health care funding has increased $1.4 billion or 41 per cent over the past six years, demonstrating the government’s commitment to improving health care for Saskatchewan people.

“Our focus in health care continues to be driven by our patient-first agenda,” Health Minister Dustin Duncan said.  “Every health care decision we make is assessed through a patient-first lens, to help us provide improved access to quality health services that make a meaningful difference for patients and their families.”

Duncan said progress will continue toward the goal of ensuring no one waits more than three months for surgery.

The Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative will receive $70.5 million in 2013-14, an increase of $10 million or 16.5 per cent.  This will result in 7,000 additional surgeries over last year.  Since November 2007, there are 61 per cent fewer people waiting more than six months for surgery and 46 per cent fewer waiting more than three months for surgery.  Ninety per cent of patients who had surgery between August 1, 2012 and January 31, 2013 received their procedure within six months and 78 per cent received it within three months.

Saskatchewan residents will benefit from $3.0 billion in funding going to regional health authorities, an increase of $132 million or 4.5 per cent over last year.  Regional health authorities provide care through hospitals, health centres and long-term care facilities, and offer mental health, addictions, public health and numerous other health services.  The $132 million investment for 2013-14 includes $29 million to recognize health pressures related to Saskatchewan’s growing population.

The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency will receive $150.7 million to provide enhanced cancer care services, a $12 million or 8.6 per cent investment over last year.  Funding allows the agency to operate prevention and early detection programs, conduct innovative research and provide safe, patient and family-centred care at cancer centres in Regina and Saskatoon.  Annually, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency has more than 6,400 new patient appointments.

To further improve cancer services for Saskatchewan people, $3.7 million will go toward operations of a new PET CT scanner at Royal University Hospital.  This diagnostic tool, which is used mainly to support appropriate treatment of cancer patients, is anticipated to begin operating later this spring.

The province’s Physician Recruitment Strategy is paying off with overall physician numbers increasing.  More than 240 additional physicians are practising in Saskatchewan today compared to 2007.  A total $17.8 million investment in 2013-14, an increase of $2.0 million, will support the doubling of post-graduate training seats to 120 to further boost physician numbers in Saskatchewan and improve access for residents.

Capital investment in the health system will total $163.9 million in 2013-14, an increase of $92.3 million or 129 per cent over last year.  This includes $50 million for replacement of the Moose Jaw Hospital, $86.5 million to continue work on long-term care facilities in 11 communities, $14.7 million for health facility maintenance, $11 million for medical equipment and $1.3 million toward a helipad at the Regina General Hospital.

A $23.6 million investment will bolster health services for people in rural Saskatchewan, including $10.5 million for continued support of the STARS helicopter ambulance program.  STARS has either flown or rendered care on-scene to more than 200 patients since beginning Saskatchewan operations in April 2012.

This investment also includes funding for innovative approaches to improve access to primary health care and funding for the new Rural Family Physician Recruitment Incentive Program announced by Premier Brad Wall last week.  Funding also includes continued investment for a rural locum pool to provide relief for physicians who are temporarily away from their practice.

Through the Saskatchewan-based assessment program to assess foreign-trained physicians, 54 have successfully completed the assessment with 94 per cent of these physicians practicing in a rural or regional community.

The number of seniors living in Saskatchewan is growing.  An additional $3.1 million will be invested in seniors care, including funding for a Home First/Quick Response Home Care two-year pilot in Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region, allowing additional clients to receive intensive home care supports.

The investment also provides for expansion of the Alzheimer Society’s First Link program and to establish six dementia advisory networks, recognizing that 18,000 Saskatchewan individuals are affected by Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.  As well, there is operating funding for 24 additional beds at Pineview Terrace Lodge in Prince Albert.

The largest portion of the government’s investment in health – 70 per cent of the 2013-14 health budget – goes toward paying health care workers.  Further, recognizing overall that about 42 cents of every dollar spent by government goes to health care, the health system as a whole is also focussed on efficiencies and sustainability.  Regional health authorities and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency have been tasked with finding $54 million in efficiencies in 2013-14.  This will be realized through administrative savings and other efficiencies, increased use of shared services co-ordinated through 3sHealth, as well as through attendance management and efforts to reduce lost time due to injuries, premium pay and sick time.

Initiatives to lower prices on generic drugs are estimated to save more than $20 million in 2013-14.  This is a combination of savings from new lower prices being implemented in April 2013 for select generic drugs, as well as savings from Saskatchewan's generic pricing strategy which has significantly lowered generic drug prices in Saskatchewan since 2011.

“Our health system is aggressively pursuing transformation in many ways – by implementing the Lean management system, improving primary health care, transforming the patient experience through sooner, smarter and safer surgical care and enhancing our safety culture with a focus on both patient and staff safety,” Duncan said.  “We are committed to a health system that provides better health, better care and better value to meet the needs of a strong, growing economy while improving the quality of life for all Saskatchewan people.”

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For more information, contact:

Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: tmcmurchy@health.gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-537-3594