American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 164, 275-279, Copyright © 1995 by American Roentgen Ray Society
Reducing imaging costs in Manitoba, Canada
DW MacEwan
Department of Radiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Manitoba, Canada, has serious debt and deficit problems and spends one-
third of its revenue on health care. Manitoba Health, the single government
carrier, has requested a 5-year management plan from the Provincial Imaging
Advisory Committee to maintain and improve the present services within
reduced funding [1]. The committee members are radiologists, nuclear
medicine specialists, physicists, physicians, hospital officials, and
senior government staff. In 1993, each Manitoba hospital prepared a 5-year
plan for imaging equipment purchases based on projected patient and
attending staff needs. The requests for services and new imaging technology
exceed planned resource allocations. I was asked by Manitoba Health in July
1993 to prepare a cost restraint position paper with a target of 10%
savings to help with government restraint and to allow some transfer of
resources for continuing growth in imaging. The approach was to consult
widely and to seek methods of significant cost savings that Canadian
society might accept (Table 1). Areas of potential savings now are being
considered by ad hoc committees appointed by hospitals and Manitoba Health.
Several are being implemented on a trial basis.
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