The health minister wants to return equity between rural and urban Manitoba. 

Theresa Oswald announced today the government will begin absorbing the full patient costs of necessary land ambulance inter-facility transfers. 

 

She explains it's part of a continuum of EMS-related care provided by the province.  They've recently replaced the entire ambulance fleet, and invested in the near eight million dollar Medical Transportation Coordination Centre in Brandon. 

 

Oswald explains there was a subsidy program in place to help cover costs of transfers, but it was abandoned about ten years ago.  Since then she's heard of several rural Manitobans who've struggled with the resulting costs. 

 

Portage mayor Ken Brennan is pleased with the announcement, as it'll eliminate the threat of "surprise bills".