Saskatchewan said it would send people to Alberta to undergo privatized surgery, but the travel costs would not be covered by the government.
According to Health Minister Paul Merriman, the Saskatchewan government will begin paying clinics in Calgary this fall to help patients on Saskatchewan's surgery waiting list. I plan to perform 20 knee and hip surgeries a month for
READ MORE: Saskatchewan Department of Health Issues Requests to Third-Party Surgical Providers
He said if patients had the option to go to Calgary, they would have to cover the travel expenses.
Merriman says sending patients out of state for privatized care will help them get surgery faster.
He also said he would open another spot within the Saskatchewan public system.
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Details: 2021: Report
NDP opposition leader Carla Beck criticized out-of-state privatized care delivery, saying the government was creating a two-tiered health system that prioritized those with higher incomes. .
This Canadian Press report was first published on August 17, 2022.
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