The Manitoba Liberals are promising to end rationing surrounding knee and hip replacements.
Leader Dougald Lamont says he will also aim to improve wait times for hip and knee surgeries.
“Manitoba Liberals will end the practice of rationing care, get people joint replacements more quickly, and restore physiotherapy so people can recover faster,” said Lamont.
Lamont described his party’s vision as a “patient-based” funding model for the procedures going forward, which means hospitals will be funded based on the number of patients, rather than receiving lump sums.
If elected, the Liberals will also boost coverage for outpatient physiotherapy, he said. That will cost about $2 million a year.
“Good physiotherapy speeds recovery from surgery and in some cases can even prevent surgery. Our goal is to get people back on their feet and mobile as soon as we can,” said Lamont.
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“We have invested $5.3 million this year to ensure at least 1,000 additional hip and knee replacements and 2,000 more cataract surgeries are performed to bring down wait times,” a Progressive Conservative spokesperson said in an email in response to Lamont’s announcement.
The Manitoba NDP also responded to Sunday’s Liberal announcement.
“Under Brian Pallister families are waiting longer for hip, knee and cataract surgeries every year and after he cut physiotherapy, patients are taking longer to recover from surgeries,” An NDP campaign spokesperson said in an email to Global News.
Manitobans head to the polls on Sept. 10.
WATCH: Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont on 680 CJOB
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