BUDGET FOCUSES ON HEALTH DISTRICTS, FRONT-LINE STAFF

Released on March 30, 2001

More than $2.2 billion will be invested this year to provide health

services to an average of 35,000 Saskatchewan residents who use these

services every day.



This is an increase of $230 million, or 11.6 per cent, from the 2000-01

health budget.



Health funding has now grown by approximately 42 per cent since 1995-96 due

to factors such as new drugs and technologies, a growing use of services

and wage and benefit improvements for health providers.



"To sustain our publicly funded health care system into the future, we will

need to strike a new balance between spending and services," Health

Minister John Nilson said. "Finding that new balance will begin with

examining and responding to the findings of the Commission on Medicare."



As part of the total increase, Nilson said health districts will receive

additional funding to recognize their current spending levels, and to

manage wage increases for health care providers and the growing cost and

demand for services.



"We need to carefully manage changes to our health system," Nilson said.

"Allowing health districts to maintain their current spending and services

in the coming months will enable us to respond to the Fyke Report in a

thoughtful manner that secures a strong future for our publicly-funded

health system."



Nilson said rather than recreating the Health Transition Fund this year,

additional funding was added to the base budget to allow the system as a

whole to make a smooth transition into the future.



Attracting and keeping skilled health care providers is a priority in the

budget.



"Through this budget we are funding more competitive wages for thousands of

nurses, physicians, emergency workers and other front-line workers, as well

as staff of community-based organizations that provide mental health and

addictions services," Nilson said.



The budget includes some new investments in priority areas to enhance

services or meet growing demand. These include: the air ambulance service,

early childhood development, the Saskatchewan Health Information Network,

primary health services, cancer treatment, physician services and the

Prescription Drug Plan.



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For more information, contact:



Peter Mayne

Health

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-7296