An organization that lobbies on behalf of Northwestern Ontario communities is out with some new data on our medical travel grant use.
Common Voice Northwest says it’s the first time they’ve been able to see where the recipients live, how many there are and where they go for health care.
Spokesperson Iain Angus calls it very useful information for our health care agencies.
Angus suggests that our health care system could save money if it looked into the data and figured out what services smaller communities are lacking.
It showed residents in Atikokan have among the highest rates in the region of having to travel for medical care.
Angus says the data also shows that Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Kenora are all heavy recipients of patients who have to travel for health care.
The data came from the group’s research looking into a regional bus service.
