Health Minister Cameron Friesen says due to COVID-19 it has been a difficult time for people who required elective surgeries. He explains throughout this period surgeries did continue but surgeons were given directions to delay cases that could safely wait 90 days while surgeries that were deemed to not be able to wait for that period of time continued. He says approximately seven thousand elective surgeries, procedures and activities were cancelled across the province due to COVID-19.
Friesen announced with the risk of COVID-19 low they are issuing a request for proposals to complete elective surgeries that were postponed. He notes the proposals which can be submitted by both public and private facilities must present details on how the applicant will be able to address priority surgical and diagnostic areas by creating additional capacity in the system. Services must be able to be delivered beginning August 1st.
