Federal deal with Saskatchewan will see money targeted on smaller health centres – CP

Source: The Canadian Press
May 14, 2018 

REGINA _ The governments of Saskatchewan and Canada have inked an agreement on health care funding that promises spending in home and community care and mental health and addictions services.

Health Minister Jim Reiter and federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale signed a deal in Regina on Monday that will see the province will invest approximately $158 million in targeted funding over five years as part of a ten-year federal financial commitment of close to $350 million.

The plans include establishing community health centres to shift the delivery of care from hospitals into community settings.

Reiter says he’s not sure as to how many community care centres will be established, but says larger communities that have prominent demands will be “front and centre.”

The province says the funding will also go towards improving access to palliative and end-of-life care, improved mental health services for youth and expanding internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy services.

Around $190 million is allocated for home and community care _ which Goodale says is a cost-effective way to deliver services.

“The seniors population of Saskatchewan is projected to double over the next 20 years. That will mean increasing demand for care and services for seniors. If that care has to be provided in hospital settings, it is very expensive,” Goodale said.

Reiter said streamlining care could be helpful to reducing wait times.

“They can get the appropriate care, in some instances they don’t need to be in the emergency room, they can be getting the care in the community. Secondly if we can sort of nip problems in the bud, people can get appropriate care at the right time, ahead of time, it prevents those emergency services being needed.”

The bilateral agreement will be reviewed in 2021-22 for the remaining five years of the 10-year commitment.

(CKRM)

INDEX: HEALTH POLITICS

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