Canadian health minister promises $11M to reduce MRI wait times

Anicka Slachta | | Radiology Business | Magnetic Resonance Imaging

British Columbia, Canada, will be receiving an additional $11 million this year to expand MRI usage across the province, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported this week.

The nearly 20 percent increase in MRI exams could cut waiting times for the pricey scans, according to Health Minister Adrian Dix, which currently exceed 41 days for half of all patients. Ten percent of Canadian patients wait more than 199 days for an MRI, CBC wrote.

Dix said the move will allow 37,000 more MRIs to be performed by this time next year, meaning British Columbia is now expected to accommodate 225,000 MRI appointments in 2018-19.

Read the full story below:

Province pledges $11M to reduce wait times for MRI scans

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Anicka Slachta

After graduating from Indiana University-Bloomington with a bachelor’s in journalism, Anicka joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering cardiology. Close to her heart is long-form journalism, Pilot G-2 pens, dark chocolate and her dog Harper Lee.

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