Facing a growing surgical wait-list, the Saskatchewan government announced Wednesday it is investing $10 million to pay for 1,700 additional surgeries over the next five months.

The procedures will include everything from hip and knee replacements to cataract surgeries. The province is also putting an emphasis on certain cardiac care, including a valve replacement procedure for people who are not candidates for open heart surgery.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedures will increase by 60 per cent and will be offered in both Saskatoon and Regina, to minimize the need for people to travel.

Most of the surgeries will take place in Regina and Saskatoon, but surgical hours will also be increased in other communities, including Lloydminster, Prince Albert and Moose Jaw.

"I read the personal letters from people waiting for surgery and cardiac procedures and I assure you that reducing the length of time people wait for their procedures is a priority for our government," Health Minister Jim Reiter said.

"We are committed to improving wait times."

Demand for surgeries up

In order to meet the March 2020 target, the Saskatchewan Health Authority will increase surgical hours in hospitals and will contract out more services to doctors' offices and private clinics.

The provincial government was quick to say the increase in surgical wait times is not due to reduced services, but rather an increase in patients who need care.

Reiter said when the province introduced its surgical initiative, 98 per cent of patients were getting surgery within six months. That has now dropped to 90 per cent, he said.

"We see the trends going in the wrong direction. We need to rectify it."

Reiter called the in-year funding injection "Step 1" to "get ahead of the problem."

Money 'drop in bucket': NDP

Opposition NDP Leader Ryan Meili said with thousands of people awaiting surgery in the province, the in-year funding is a "drop in the bucket."

Information on the province's website indicates that as of May this year, more than 23,500 people in the province were waiting for surgery.

He said the government needs to come up with solutions to address the root causes of stress on the health-care system, which have an impact on surgical backlogs.

"The reality is people have serious concerns. Our health-care system is facing serious stresses and this is an un-serious response to that level of concern."

Meili also challenged the government to address the issue of lengthy ER waits, citing "hallway medicine" as an issue in emergency rooms in Regina and Saskatoon.

Reiter acknowledged that as a concern he shares.