Doug Ford, Ontario health minister make announcement | LIVE

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones are expected to make a joint announcement Monday as the province continues to face a strained health-care system.

While the premier's office offered no details on the announcement, government sources previously told The Canadian Press the province intends to unveil a multi-phase plan to start performing thousands of publicly-funded surgeries in private clinics in an effort to tackle a massive backlog.

According to reports, the first phase will focus on the expansion of cataract surgeries, followed by a second stage that expands into low-complex orthopedic surgeries like knee and hip replacements, as well as diagnostic tests.

Ford's announcement came a week after he hailed the decision to allow pharmacists to prescribe medications for 13 common conditions that took effect on Jan. 1.

He also addressed questions on staff shortages by saying the province is investing in student nurses and doctors, but didn’t provide a timeline or further details.

The premier said he and his provincial and territorial counterparts were still trying to set a date to meet with the federal government to discuss their request to increase health transfers.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/9412951/ford-jones-announcement-ontario-surgeries/

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