Money for the next phase of the new hospital in Weyburn.
The provincial budget released Wednesday afternoon allocates $5 million in capital funding, to be divided between the hospital project in Weyburn, and the Prince Albert Victoria hospital redevelopment project. Both of the proposals are getting ready to enter their final stages of approval.
The capital costs are part of an overall $5.55 billion in health care programs and services, the most ever spent by a provincial government.
The budget includes $3.6 billion in operating money for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, which is a 3.2 percent increase from last year.
There are some new programs included within the budget for the Ministry of Health.
Work will be starting immediately on the creation of a provincial organ donor registry, with the aim to have it ready by the end of the fiscal year. The price tag for the registry is set at $558,000.
The individualized funding for children under the age of six with Autism Spectrum Disorder is increasing. Families will see the funding increase from $4,000 a year to $6,000. The increase is intended to provide greater flexibility for parents in terms of choosing therapeutic interventions and supports.
Funding for physician services will also be increasing in the budget this year. They will be increased by $15 million. The money will be used to pay for increased physician visits, as well as fund 15 new specialist contracts, and eight new primary care physician contracts. There is no word where these positions will be located.
The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency is also receiving an addition $8 million, bringing their budget up to $178 million. The money is intended to support the addition of 18 drugs to the oncology formulary, while also recruiting additional oncologists.
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