There could soon be relief coming to B.C. patients waiting for an MRI as the province has promised to add 37,000 more exams over the next 12 months.
Health minister Adrian Dix made the announcement in Surrey yesterday, says a Hospital Employees’ Union press release. This initiative adds to the province’s announcement last week to increase its capacity to conduct surgeries by 9,400 in the public health sector by the end of next March.
"Timely access to necessary health care services is the right of all British Columbians," said Jennifer Whiteside, secretary-business manager for HEU. "Citizens should not be forced to choose between waiting for months for a needed medical service, or paying privately."
Currently, the per capita rate for public MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, exams in B.C. is 37 per 1,000 B.C. residents, much lower than the national average of 55.5.
Typically, half of the MRI patients in B.C. need to wait 41 days for an exam, while one-tenth wait more than 199 days.
"The health minister's announcement of 37,000 more MRI exams -- along with other new initiatives like the five new hip and knee replacement centres -- puts B.C. firmly on the road to renewal when it comes to building the capacity of our public health care system," Whiteside added.
