When the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (NDP) was elected in 1991, the province was in financial crisis; health care costs accounted for one third of government spending. Passed in 1993, the Health Districts Act aimed to reduce costs, regionalize the system, and promote healthy living. The health care budget was reduced by 3.3%, 400 administrative bodies were reorganized into 30 health care districts, and 52 hospitals were converted into either long-term care or wellness centres. While there had been stakeholder consultations, a 1997 survey indicated that the public felt ignored. Though the closures were not associated with increased mortality, they placed an increased burden on informal caregivers.
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Updates
New evidence of the Impact of the Closure of 52 Hospitals in Rural Saskatchewan in the 1990s
07 May 2019 | Country Update
Authors
- Jenkin Tsang
- Rachel McKay
- Sara Allin
- Amélie Quesnel-Vallée
Country
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