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Seeking Solutions Together

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The wait times provided here are for scheduled tests, treatments and services only.


Moving towards a health care system that is realistic and meets the needs of Nova Scotians in years to come requires participation from everyone who manages and uses the system.

Nova Scotia Health System

The Nova Scotia Department of Health has the legislated responsibility to set direction and standards, to monitor activity, and to plan and allocate resources for the health care system. Nova Scotia currently spends about 46 per cent of the provincial budget, or approximately $2.5 billion on the delivery of quality health care to Nova Scotians. In 2005-06, the department increased the budgets of district health authorities and the IWK Health Centre by an additional $100 million over 2004-05.

District health authorities Open new window and the IWK Health Centre Open new window are responsible to plan, manage, deliver, and evaluate services in their districts. They are expected to work together where they can to avoid duplication and best meet the needs of residents.

The Nova Scotia Department of Health works closely with the district health authorities, IWK Health Centre, and other health partners to identify, address, and reduce wait times throughout the health system.

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Government of Canada

The federal government is responsible for providing appropriate funding to keep pace with the province’s needs. In December 2004 Nova Scotia committed more than $62 million in federal funding to help manage wait times and improve quality of care Open new window.

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Canadian Collaboration

Nova Scotia, together with the other provinces and territories, is committed to a Ten Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care Open new window. The plan was developed by the federal, provincial, and territorial ministers of health in 2003. The purpose of the plan is to achieve meaningful reductions in wait times in priority areas, such as cancer, heart, diagnostic imaging, joint replacements, and sight restoration. Funding for this initiative is provided in part by the federal government through the Wait Times Reduction Fund.

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Nova Scotians

Nova Scotians can play a key role in reducing their healthcare wait times by accessing their care in another community where the wait is shorter. Nova Scotians can use the wait time information on this web site to find out where the shortest waits are.

Please talk to your healthcare provider If you are interested in accessing needed healthcare outside your community.

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