Health districts rely on various foundations to help pay for new equipment, says the head of their lobby group.
Brian Rourke, chair of the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations, said he had no figures, but member health districts tell him they benefit from foundation fund-raisers.
“There’s some concern that if we move to larger health districts, people in local communities will be less inclined to donate.”
The provincial health department also appreciates the work of the foundations, said Saskatchewan official Bert Linklater.
“We love them.”
Major fund-raisers
While the department does not track the foundations, he estimated there is one in most health districts and they raise $10 million a year for equipment.
With the federal government kicking in more money to provincial health budgets, Linklater is not sure of the future role of foundations.
“We would certainly encourage them to stay involved.”
