The NDP has introduced legislation to repeal the province’s private MRI program.
Opposition leader Ryan Meili says MRI wait times are getting longer and the user pay model for private MRIs is unfair.

He doesn’t think people facing serious health challenges should have to wait longer than those who can afford to pay and get services from a private clinic quicker.

Health minister Jim Reiter counters that the policy right now is that when a private MRI is done, they must also offer a free service and he considers it effective.

He adds that although the government has increased capacity for MRIs, the demand has also increased.

The NDP legislation is a private members bill which is rarely approved in the Saskatchewan legislature.

(ckrm June26 20)