New Investments Increase Access to Care and Expand Crucial Services
THUNDER BAY – POLITICS – “I am proud of our province’s commitment to hospitals in Northwestern Ontario. These investments allow for improved patient outcomes in our communities and ensure that people can get the best possible care at the right time in the right location. This, along with the new OHIP+ Children and Youth Pharmacare Program greatly contributes to the quality of life in Northwestern Ontario,” says Minister Bill Mauro, MPP, Thunder Bay – Atikokan.
As part of the 2017 Budget, Ontario is making investments to increase access to care, expand crucial services and procedures, and improve the patient experience for the people of northwestern Ontario.
Hospitals in northwestern Ontario are receiving more than $9.3 million in additional funding as part of a major boost to hospitals in the 2017 Budget, which includes a 3.1 per cent increase in funding to the hospital sector and a two per cent increase in funding for each and every hospital in the province.
Atikokan General Hospital $ 150,800
Dryden Regional Health Centre $ 374,900
Geraldton District Hospital $ 196,700
The Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital Corporation $ 129,700
Lake of the Woods District Hospital $ 555,011
Manitouwadge General Hospital $ 100,400
Nipigon District Memorial Hospital $ 129,200
North of Superior Healthcare Group $ 223,600
Riverside Health Care Facilities $ 498,200
Sioux Lookout Meno-Ya-Win Health Centre $ 633,300
St. Joseph’s Health Care Group $2,304,100
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences $4,011,984
These investments will provide the people of northwestern Ontario with improved access and reduced wait times for chemotherapy, stroke treatments, hip and knee replacements, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs) and other vital services and procedures.
Ontario is also investing an additional $9 billion over 10 years in capital grants to build and modernize hospital infrastructure.
People in northwestern Ontario will also benefit from an additional $10 million investment in the Northern Ontario Travel Grant, which helps northern Ontario residents with costs associated with receiving care outside their communities. This investment will expand support under this program, allowing for accommodation grants for longer stays, up to a maximum of $550 for eight night stays.
Ontario is increasing access to care, reducing wait times and improving the patient experience through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care and OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare – protecting health care today and into the future.
“Through our increased investment in operating and capital funding for northern Ontario hospitals and our investment in the Northern Health Travel Program, we are improving access to care, reducing wait times, and improving the experience of patients in northwestern/northeastern Ontario. We are also delivering on our commitment to patients in northern Ontario communities to provide them with faster access to the right care, close to home,” states Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
QUICK FACTS
- Each of Ontario’s 145 public hospitals will receive a minimum 2 per cent increase to its funding in 2017–18.
- Hospital operating funding in Ontario has increased more than 58 per cent, from $11.3 billion in 2003-04 to $18 billion in 2017-18.
- Ontario’s health care budget will total $53.8 billion in 2017–18 — a 3.8 per cent increase from the previous year.
