Saskatchewan will pay private clinic for surgeries

The Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region is booking surgeries at the private Omni Surgery Centre, saying that use of the private clinic will help reduce wait times. The clinic will charge the government about 11 per cent less per knee surgery than the local hospital, allowing the province to do more surgeries. Health Minister Don McMorris said that because no one will be allowed to pay to jump the queue, the public health care system will remain intact. The opposition NDP has called the move “a step down the road” to privatization. The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses has also expressed concern.

CBC