WHITE RIVER—A major item on the Northeastern Superior Mayor’s Group, (NSMG) meeting agenda, was health care.
The Northeastern Superior Mayors Group consist of the municipal leaders from the towns of White River, Manitouwadge, Hornepayne, Wawa, Dubreuiville and Chapleau.
According to White River’s Mayor Angelo Bazzino, who attended the meeting, “Local health care was a major topic of discussion,” stated Bazzino.
At their meeting, NSMG highlighted this issue and discussed their concerns about the fact that the Provinces’ Ministry of Health has reduced the funding to support Locum physicians.
According to the local municipal leaders the current Provincial Government does not realize the impact the local forestry and mining industry is having on the local economies and the problems associated causing a lack of proper health care.
In particular it was revealed that the Lady Dunn Health Care Group was facing many issues that impact the health care for the Superior Region.
In addition, Anne Stenlan representing the Lady Dunn Health Care Group, expressed a key concern. “The Ministry of Health has reduced funding needed to support locum doctors, who are visiting doctors who come into the region to support the health care needs of the area,” stated Stenlan.
The Locum physicians want to come into the Superior region areas such as the Municipalities of White River and Wawa to help. However, reducing the funding needed to have these Locum physicians available, is becoming more difficult and in turn, is putting a strain on the resident doctors already working in the region. As a result, two physicians have recently left the area.