| |
|
|
|
For Immediate Release
July 8, 2002
2002/nr-063
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES PLAN TO REDUCE MRI/CT WAIT TIMES
TORONTO – Ontario’s Health and Long-Term Minister Tony Clement today announced plans to provide up to 20 new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines and five new Computed Tomography (CT) scanners.
It is estimated that thousands of patients across the province will benefit every year from this announcement and will bring the total number of funded MRI machines up to 63 from 12 in 1995.
The new MRI machines and CT scanners will operate through the existing Independent Health Facilities Act (IHFA), within Ontario’s universally accessible publicly funded health care system.
"What this means to patients all across Ontario is that the latest diagnostics tools will be available to you faster than ever before, reducing the frustration of wait times," said Clement.
This follows the government’s budget commitment to improve accessibility to diagnostic services. As part of last week’s $645 million increase to hospitals, the government committed an additional $28.3 million to increase the hours of operation for hospital MRI machines by 90 per cent.
Last summer’s Public Dialogue, the largest public consultation in the province’s history with some 400,000 respondents, asked the Ontario government to improve access to diagnostic tools and reduce patient wait times. These announcements are a significant step toward that goal.
"We will be addressing the specific needs of those in under-serviced areas who have asked our government for faster access to things like MRIs," said Clement. "Since IHFs were introduced in 1990, they have provided patients with faster, quality access to x-rays and ultrasounds in a universal publicly funded system, MRIs and CTs are just the next generation of these machines."
There are close to 1,000 IHFs operating in Ontario, delivering many diagnostic services, such as x-rays and ultrasounds. These services are covered by OHIP and available free of charge to OHIP-insured patients.
A Request For Proposals (RFP) process is anticipated to begin later this summer.
- 30 -
For further information contact:
Dan Strasbourg 416-314-6197
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
If you’re a member of the general public, and require more information, please call:
(416) 327-4327 or toll-free: (800) 268-1154
|
|
|
