Released on August 20, 1996
Finance Minister Janice MacKinnon and Health Minister Eric Cline todayannounced that an additional $40 million will be provided to
Saskatchewan's health system. Most of the money will be allocated to
health districts to enable them to pay down debt and improve their
working capital.
"We're pleased that this additional investment in the health system can
be accommodated within the province's financial plans because of
stronger than projected economic growth," MacKinnon said.
"We are providing this funding to district health boards to give them
more flexibility to manage the pace of health renewal," Cline said.
"Balancing the budget and paying down debt laid the stable foundation
Saskatchewan needed to trigger rapid economic growth," MacKinnon said.
"Our resource revenues in areas such as uranium and oil, and our
land-rights sales are at historically high levels. Consumer indicators
such as retail sales are also rising, which shows the confidence of
Saskatchewan people.
"Some of these trends, which will be documented inside the province's
1995-96 Public Accounts, have caused a substantial improvement in the
province's position. That's why we could find a degree of fiscal room
to invest in one of our core priorities, health," Mackinnon said.
"Our commitment to medicare is clear," Cline said. "We founded the
system and we are renewing it so that quality health care will be
available into the next century. At the beginning of this fiscal year
we backfilled federal cuts to health. Now, as our financial position
has improved, we are investing another $40 million.
"We have made major progress in restructuring the health system and we
will continue to move in that direction. But we have listened to
residents' concerns and recognize that, in some cases, they feel the
pace of change has been too fast," Cline said.
Cline said the funding will allow health districts to address specific
needs such as developing community-based services; upgrading medical
equipment; recruiting physicians; and providing more time and
flexibility to plan and manage change.
"This funding will relieve immediate financial pressure and free up
resources to speed the development of community-based services," Cline
said. "This clearly demonstrates the commitment this government places
on ensuring high-quality health services will always be available to
all residents of the province."
Saskatchewan Health will meet with district boards to discuss specific
needs and allocations. All health districts and programs that serve
all residents will receive funding.
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For more information, contact:
Ron Podbielski Judy Brachman
Saskatchewan Finance Saskatchewan Health
Regina Regina
Phone: (306) 787-6578 Phone: (306) 787-3078