News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

June 23, 2020

Province Invests in New Diagnostic Equipment to Improve Access to Care, Closer to Home

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Manitoba Patients to Benefit from New Diagnostic and Treatment Machines, CT Scanners and Other Equipment: Friesen

As part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing the care available at health-care facilities across the province, the Manitoba government has invested in new diagnostic equipment to be installed at sites throughout the province, Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen announced today.
 
“Improving patient access and quality of care is largely dependent on being able to quickly determine what care is required and where it can best be delivered,” said Friesen. “Investing in diagnostic equipment for facilities throughout the province not only ensures Manitobans are able to access specialized services and care when they need it, in many cases it will allow them to seek that care closer to home.”
 
This investment supports new or replacement equipment at sites both within and outside Winnipeg. In total, six pieces of diagnostic equipment have been approved and will be tendered in the near future or are already in the process of being installed. They include:
a linear accelerator for radiation treatment at CancerCare Manitoba,
a general duty X-ray machine and a liquid chromatography system at HSC Winnipeg,
CT scanners at Brandon Regional Health Centre and Victoria General Hospital, and
a new interventional radiology unit at St. Boniface Hospital.
 
The total investment in these projects is subject to the tendering process, the minister said.
 
Additionally, the Manitoba government has invested approximately $720,000 to purchase and install two general duty X-ray machines at the Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach and the Altona Community Memorial Health Centre. Both pieces of equipment are now operational.
 
“Ensuring diagnostic equipment is reliable and ensures timely access to quality care for Manitoba patients are high priorities as we continue to implement the recommendations of Manitoba’s first provincial clinical and preventive services plan,” said Petr Kresta, chief operating officer of diagnostic services, Shared Health. “Investments in this vital equipment will ensure we continue to meet the needs of Manitoba’s growing and aging population.”
 
Since 2016, the Manitoba government has significantly improved diagnostic services in the province. This includes the recent launch of echocardiography services at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre. MRI services have also been added in Selkirk and at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre to handle increasing patient volumes.
 
“Our government has responded to the growing demands of an aging population with increasing health-care needs by expanding diagnostic services and bringing them closer to home,” said Friesen.  “These new pieces of clinical equipment are aligned with Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan and will ensure more patients get the care they need, when they need it.”
 
For more information on Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan, visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/pcpsp.html.
 
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