August 17, 2020
Province Awards Contracts to Address Surgery Backlog
– – –New Contracts will Accelerate Surgeries and Procedures for Thousands of Manitobans: Friesen
The Manitoba government has awarded five contracts to address the backlog in surgeries due to COVID-19, Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen announced today.
“All Canadian provinces had to slow their surgery programs in this global pandemic and Manitoba committed to act fast to address the backlog created by COVID-19,” said Friesen. “This announcement shows that our government places a high priority on getting the system back on track with innovative solutions that will accelerate these procedures for so many Manitobans.”
A combined total of $2.5 million in contracts were awarded to five facilities. In early September, patients will begin receiving care in the following areas:
• echocardiogram exams,
• urology procedures,
• orthopaedic spine procedures, and
• foot and hand surgeries.
Both public and private providers responded to the request for service agreements to expand capacity with innovative and creative responses. Additional contracts will be awarded as progress is monitored, the minister noted. By March 2021, approximately 4,000 surgical procedures and 4,000 imaging exams will have been rescheduled.
“Manitoba initiated a solutions-based approach to expand health system capacity,” said Friesen. “We are expanding on existing arrangements with service providers and inviting new providers in focusing on the goal of putting the patient first.”
The health-care system paused elective surgeries in late March to ensure there was capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic if case numbers continued to increase. Surgical volumes were reduced by approximately 7,000 procedures. As COVID-19 case numbers fell in late April, elective surgeries resumed and surgical volumes had reached 90 per cent of normal levels by early June. At that time, there were approximately 5,500 people still waiting to have their surgery rescheduled.
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