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Media Contacts

Ministry of Health

Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)

Backgrounders

Improving access to MRI exams

Improving access to MRI exams is being achieved by increasing the number of exams performed throughout the province by close to 37,000 exams by the end the March 2019. This will bring the total number of exams performed to 225,000 and address how long people wait for this service.

Estimated volumes for 2017-18 and 2018-19

  • 2017-18 estimated totals
    • B.C. – 188,316
    • Northern Health – 7,632
    • Interior Health – 20,720
    • Fraser Health – 55,230
    • Vancouver Coastal Health – 56,574
    • Island Health – 38,000
    • Provincial Health Services Authority – 10,160
  • 2018-19 estimated totals and percentage change over previous year:
    • B.C. – 225,000, 19.5%
    • Northern Health – 13,000, 70.3%
    • Interior Health – 26,000, 25.5%
    • Fraser Health – 63,000, 14.1%
    • Vancouver Coastal Health – 63,000, 11.4%
    • Island Health – 48,000, 26.3%
    • Provincial Health Services Authority – 12,000, 18.1%

Current B.C. Wait Times

Five out of 10 people get their exams in the number of days below, or less:

  • 2017-18 (year-to-date) total days:
    • B.C. – 41
    • Northern Health – 56
    • Interior Health – 52
    • Fraser Health – 87
    • Vancouver Coastal Health – 14
    • Island Health – 45

Nine out of 10 people get their exams in the number of days below, or less:

  • 2017-18 (year-to-date) total days:
    • B.C. – 199
    • Northern Health – 319
    • Interior Health – 233
    • Fraser Health – 297
    • Vancouver Coastal Health – 107
    • Island Health – 160