Wage increases, staffing levels drive up health costs, Manitoba report says

An audit of immoderate Manitoba wellness authorities says wage increases and the rising outgo of drugs and supplies person been immoderate of the biggest factors successful deficits successful caller years.

The audit, by consulting steadfast Deloitte, was launched past twelvemonth aft the NDP authorities saw expenses emergence sharply successful immoderate areas of wellness care.

The study looked astatine a play betwixt 2019 and past year, erstwhile galore determination wellness authorities were moving deficits.

It says caller corporate agreements with nurses, which included retroactive wage hikes, were 1 factor.

The rising outgo of drugs and aesculapian supplies was besides cited, arsenic was the outgo of utilizing nurses from backstage agencies.

The study calls for much transparency astir budgeting for the authorities, arsenic good arsenic a stricter introspection of projected spending.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara accepted the uncovering and blamed the erstwhile Progressive Conservative authorities for the problems.

Minutes earlier the study was issued, the Winnipeg Regional wellness Authority and Shared Health Manitoba some announced the departures of their main enforcement officers.