Saskatchewan Health Authority Board approves 2022-23 budget

Today the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s (SHA) Board of Directors approved a $4.6 billion operating budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, as well as a capital expenditure plan of more than $138.7 million for 2022-23.

“The SHA is committed to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. For the 2022-23 fiscal year our focus will be to resume project work and re-establish the overall momentum on strategic initiatives,” said Arlene Wiks, Chairperson of the SHA Board. “It is critical our budget invests in key priorities that strengthen services for Saskatchewan residents and guide the advancement of essential health system priorities.”

The SHA and the Government of Saskatchewan are committed to funding necessary health care services while expanding on key service areas impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to help get our health system back on track. Additionally, as part of the SHA budget plan, multi-year planning and budgeting has been re-established to create opportunities for 2023-24 projects and equipment acquisition which will enable efficiencies in delivery for the next fiscal year.

“Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are eager to enhance accessibility and timeliness of key services for the residents of Saskatchewan through our Connected Care strategy and targeted initiatives,” said CEO Andrew Will. “These include enhanced access to vital core services like mental health and addictions supports, reducing surgical wait times and stabilizing rural and remote services, strengthening our ability to provide timely high quality care as close to home as possible.”

The SHA budget plan is prepared on a consolidated basis and consists of both the SHA operating budget and capital budget, as well as the 3sHealth operating budget and capital budget.

Funding highlights from the SHA’s operating budget include:

• $21.6 million: increase surgical volumes;
• $12.5 million: expand provincial intensive care unit (ICU) beds;
• $10.8 million: stabilize Emergency Medical Services (EMS);
• $7.2 million: stabilize rural emergency hubs and physician coverage;
• $7.0 million: enhance mental health and addictions programming;
• $6.5 million: hire additional Continuing Care Aides in long-term care (LTC) and home care;
• $4.8 million: enhance home care;
• $4.5 million: address diagnostic imaging wait times; and
• $3.0 million: increase high acuity unit positions in Regina.

Capital expenditures within the SHA 2022-23 plan continue to target infrastructure, equipment and information technology investments from the previous year. These also include allocation of funding towards redeveloping Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert and building the new hospital in Weyburn, along with pre-construction planning for new and replacement long-term care facilities in Estevan, Grenfell, Regina, Watson and the Regional Health Centre in Yorkton.

“These strategic infrastructure investments, combined with targeted investments in key services, will allow us to address some of the local pressures on our health system and strengthen our overall ability to provide seamless care to Saskatchewan residents as close to home as possible,” Will said.