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McGuinty Government Increases Support For Area Hospitals

News Release ******************** The McGuinty government will be covering an unprecedented 90 per cent of the eligible construction costs for hospital projects in Nipissing, Monique Smith announced today on behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minist
News Release

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The McGuinty government will be covering an unprecedented 90 per cent of the eligible construction costs for hospital projects in Nipissing, Monique Smith announced today on behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman. The exact cost benefit to the hospital and community will only be known once the project costs are finalized.

“We’re on the side of Ontario families who want and deserve the very best healthcare, including quality hospital care,” said Smith. “Our government is making it easier for both the North Bay Regional Health Centre and the Mattawa General Hospital to successfully raise local funds to complete their capital projects in a timely fashion.”

This new policy simplifies the Ministry’s share of construction costs. In the past, capital cost share rates varied from 50 per cent to 80 per cent depending on the project. Under this new policy, hospitals will be responsible for 10 per cent of the construction costs as well as the costs associated with the purchase of new and replacement equipment.

The government will also cover 100 per cent of eligible construction costs for longer-term mental health programs. In addition, the government will fund 100 per cent of the eligible costs related to the planning and design of hospital projects and 100 per cent of the costs for eligible new major radiation therapy equipment.

“Our government wants to make sure Ontarians have access to quality health services in modern, state-of-the-art health care facilities,” Smitherman said. “We are increasing our support to hospitals for capital costs, so they can move ahead with their projects. In this way, hospitals can meet the future health needs of their communities.”

This is just the latest example of how the McGuinty government is on the side of Ontario families when it comes to providing quality hospital care. Other initiatives include:

- Reducing wait times for five key health care services (hip and knee joint replacement, cataract surgeries, MRI exams, cancer surgeries and cardiac procedures) with a recent investment of $222.5 million

- Increasing operating grant funding to hospitals to $12.9 billion in 2006/07, $13.4 billion in 2007/08, and $14 billion in 2008/09

- Issuing Requests for Proposals for 11 new hospital projects in 2006/07 worth $2 billion.

Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

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