INCREASED INVESTMENT IN HEALTH IN 1998/99 BUDGET

Released on March 19, 1998

Health Minister Clay Serby today announced that the government is

continuing to invest in the health of Saskatchewan people with an

additional $88 million for the health system. The total investment in

health in 1998/99 will rise to $1.72 billion.



"Funding to the health system has been increased by 5.4 per cent in

today's provincial budget," Serby said. "This investment will help

modernize our health system and further sustain and improve our

high-quality health services for residents across the province."



One of the major thrusts of the new funding is to stabilize physician

services, particularly in rural Saskatchewan. A new program to

support emergency on-call services is being introduced. In addition,

as part of a three-year contract, physicians will receive special

funding to help cover rising medical liability premiums. Dramatically

higher premiums have been a barrier for some physicians performing

specialized services, such as delivering babies.



The government has increased its investment in health districts by

$30 million to ensure they are able to deliver secure, quality

services to residents across the province.



Other initiatives in the budget include:



A total of $44.9 million to support improvements,

renovations or replacement of health facilities;



$20 million for the current year's development of the

Saskatchewan Health Information Network as previously

announced;



An additional $2.7 million for the Saskatchewan Cancer

Agency to help it recruit and retain cancer physicians and

to cover the cost of new drugs and treatments;



An additional $2 million to support clinical services and

teaching in the College of Medicine;



$1 million to expand immunization programs;



Funding to cover the operating costs of a new MRI in Regina

and the ongoing operation of a new CT scanner in Prince

Albert;



An additional $125,000, as previously announced, to improve

the rate of kidney transplantation, the availability of

organs, and education programs;



Funding to support satellite renal dialysis sites in

northeastern and southeastern Saskatchewan; and



Increased supplementary health benefits funding to assist

low-income families with health-related costs, consistent

with the government's Child Benefit Program.



"Approximately one third of the entire provincial budget is being

invested in health," Serby said. "Our spending on health is the

highest it's ever been. While we still have challenges to meet,

and despite the lack of federal support, health remains the

highest priority of this government."



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For more information, contact:



Jeff Brown

Communications and Public Information

Saskatchewan Health

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4088