Released on March 26, 1999
Health Minister Pat Atkinson said today the release of the 1999-2000budget for health gives Saskatchewan citizens an excellent opportunity
to review the health services and programs available in the province.
"The range of health services available to every citizen in
Saskatchewan is vast," Atkinson said. "And the funding directed to
health care in this budget means an increase in those services."
She acknowledged it is often easy to take for granted the benefits of
our health system and concentrate instead on areas for improvement.
"This government knows there are issues within the system, but let's
balance those concerns with our many successes and accomplishments.
More than 35,000 individuals use this system every day and the vast
majority receive excellent service and care."
Atkinson said the total health budget of $1.9 billion will allow
health districts to deliver vital services including:
more than 91,000 surgeries a year;
9,200 nursing home beds;
three MRI sites, one in Regina and two in Saskatoon;
76,000 trips by road ambulance;
more than 800 air ambulance trips;
4.6 million visits to family doctors;
925,000 visits to specialists;
1,450,000 tests in the provincial lab;
400,000 immunizations for children and adults; and
help through the Drug Plan for more than 100,000 families.
Atkinson added there are scores more programs offered to
Saskatchewan citizens, including preventive measures such as
screening programs, counselling, prenatal care, public health
inspections, health promotion and health research.
She urged citizens to contact their health district to find out
more about program details.
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For more information, contact:
Jeff Brown
Communications Branch
Saskatchewan Health
Regina
Phone: (306)787-4088