Released on September 15, 2020
Thousands of patients in Northern and Central Saskatchewan now have improved access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services. Mayfair Diagnostics began delivering community-based MRI services in mid-August and will provide a minimum of 4,500 exams per year in Saskatoon.
“Our government is committed to providing improved, sustainable access to community-based MRI services for Saskatchewan residents with this $2.13 million investment,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said. “This expansion of MRI services in Saskatoon will significantly reduce wait times for this important diagnostic procedure and will benefit thousands of patients each year.”
In February 2020, the Saskatchewan Health Authority awarded a contract to Mayfair Diagnostics to deliver publicly-funded, community-based MRI services in Saskatoon and to continue providing MRI services in Regina.
Mayfair Diagnostics will provide a minimum of 10,000 MRI procedures per year, including the continuation of 5,500 MRI exams in Regina and 4,500 exams in Saskatoon, for a total annual contracted cost of $4.75 million.
“We are pleased to operate the first community-based MRI clinic in Saskatoon,” Mayfair Diagnostics Executive Chair Dr. Shamir Patel said. “We look forward to helping reduce MRI wait times and working with the local health care community to support patients and colleagues in Saskatoon and surrounding areas. Our clinic was designed with patient comfort and convenience in mind.”
“The Saskatchewan Health Authority has worked collaboratively with the Ministry of Health on the expansion of the community-based MRI program,” Saskatchewan Health Authority Medical Imaging Executive Director Bryan Witt said. “Community access to MRI services have been provided in Regina since 2014, under contractual relationships with third-party providers, and now we have a community-based third party contract with Mayfair Diagnostics in Saskatoon.”
In 2019-20, approximately $27.6 million was spent on MRI services, an increase of 184 per cent from $9.7 million in 2007-08. In the 2020-21 Budget, the Government of Saskatchewan provided an additional $4.4 million for medical imaging equipment replacement.
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For more information, contact:
Colleen Book
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca
Amber Nason
Mayfair
Phone: 403-463-8776
Email: anason@radiology.ca
Media Relations
Saskatchewan Health Authority
Phone: 1-833-766-4392
Email: media@saskhealthauthority.ca