Health Regions Have to Find Savings

The interim CEO of the Cypress Health Region says health regions across Saskatchewan will have to do some belt tightening after Wednesday's provincial budget.

Beth Vachon says, with a 3.1% increase in health funding, they have been asked to find savings within the region.  She says Health Authorities have been asked to find $35 million in system efficiencies and, while they need to find those efficiencies, they need to do it while still maintaining quality care.

Vachon says they are encouraged by the provincial government's continued committment to critical healthcare issues such as doctor recruitment and retention, and reducing surgical wait times.

In past years, healthcare funding normally recieves an 8-9% increase.