Feds. give Sask. money to reduce wait times.

It is good to hear some positive news about medicare although the wait times allowed still seem long. At least no one will need to wait longer. The article does not explain in any detail why the money was given. I assume there is some money available from the feds for precisely this purpose. As I recall another province received money for this purpose as well but then my memory may be going along with other functions!

Ottawa gives Sask. $25M to reduce wait lists
Last Updated: Sunday, April 1, 2007 | 5:49 PM ET
CBC News
Saskatchewan has received $25 million to reduce wait times for coronary bypass surgeries — even though it's a procedure that's already done relatively speedily here.

Under the deal announced in Regina Thursday by federal Health Minister Tony Clement and Saskatchewan Health Minister Len Taylor, by 2010, no one in Saskatchewan is supposed to wait longer than 26 weeks for a coronary bypass — a surgical procedure where blocked arteries to the heart are bypassed using healthy arteries taken from an arm or leg.

Currently, only two per cent of all Saskatchewan coronary bypass patients wait longer than 26 weeks, so meeting the standard by 2010 is considered possible by the province.

"We have chosen an area that … we know we can be successful," Taylor said.

Clement said the $25 million is money well spent, because what is learned about cutting coronary bypass waiting lists can be applied to other procedures.

Taylor also said the money can help Saskatchewan specialize in cardiac care and take overflow patients from provinces such as Ontario.

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"They can send their heart patients to Saskatchewan, we can send our eye patients to Ontario," he said.

However, the Saskatchewan Party's health critic, Don McMorris, says the government is targeting the wrong specialty.

Saskatchewan has lagged behind other areas of the country when it comes to waiting lists for such procedures as hip and knee replacements.

"I think it's a bit off a cop-out by this NDP government," McMorris said. "They don't seem to want to take up the challenge of other areas that we're doing so poorly on."

For example, McMorris says, the money could be better spent reducing wait time in areas where there are problems — such as orthopedic surgery or eye surgery.