Investment Will Help Ensure Patients and Families Have Access to High-Quality Health Care
The Ontario government is taking further action to address wait times for diagnostic imaging by investing in 2 new MRI machines at Mackenzie Health. These new MRI machines will help ensure that people in York Region can receive the high-quality care and diagnostic imaging they need when they need it.
“I am thrilled that Mackenzie Health is among those receiving new MRI machines with our government’s $30 million investment. 2 new MRI’s will help those living in our community of Richmond Hill and across York Region as we endeavor to end hallway healthcare.” Says Richmond Hill MPP, Daisy Wai.
Under the previous government, new base investments to support the operations of net new MRI machines stopped in 2011 and were limited to one-time investments to support additional MRI operating hours. Over the last 10 years, the demand for MRI services has increased on average by approximately four per cent annually and wait times have worsened with 54 per cent of cases completed within target wait times in 2013/14 to 39 per cent of cases completed within target in 2019/2020.
The 2021 Budget, Ontario's Action Plan: Protecting People's Health and Our Economy, outlined a total of $1.8 billion in additional investments for hospitals in 2021-22. This includes funding to create more than 3,100 additional hospital beds to increase capacity, as well as an increase of $778 million in operating funding to ensure all publicly funded hospitals will receive a minimum one per cent increase to help them keep pace with patient needs and to increase access to high-quality care for patients and families across Ontario.
