The Saskatchewan Health Authority announced a 4.36-billion dollar operating budget for the 2021/22 fiscal year.
Highlights of the budget includes 7.2-million dollars to enhance mental health and addictions programming, 6.6-million dollars towards reducing EMS and emergency department wait times, and 6-million dollars for additional continuing care aides in long-term care homes.
90-million dollars in one-time funding is for COVID response, 2-million dollars towards expanding the neonatal unit in Prince Albert, and 1.2-million dollars towards addressing diagnostic imaging wait times.
A 159-million dollar capital expenditure plan was also approved by the SHA.
89.2-million dollars will go towards infrastructure maintenance, while planning will begin for a long-term care facility in Grenfell.