ST. JOHN'S — A provincial pilot program that added extra scheduled medical flights to and from communities along the Labrador coast has allowed 117 more people to travel for essential health care since it began on June 20, officials said Friday.
Why the flights were added
The flights are part of a temporary expansion of schedevac services — scheduled, non‑emergency medical transportation distinct from urgent medevac missions. Health Minister Lela Evans described the move as an effort to reduce cancellations and long, unplanned waits that have at times prevented timely access to specialists and ongoing treatments.
Evans announced the measure at a news conference at the Confederation Building in St. John's. She was joined by Nadine McEvoy, chief operating officer for Medavie Newfoundland and Labrador; Gerald Asivak, the former Nunatsiavut health minister; and Cassie Chisholm, COO of the Labrador‑Grenfell Health zone.
"Our elders die too young," says Minister Evans.
What the pilot has achieved and how long it will run
The department said the additional flights have enabled dozens of residents to keep scheduled appointments — including people undergoing cancer treatments and those finally able to see specialists — and to return home without being stranded by last‑minute cancellations.
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Patients moved | 117 (since June 20) |
| Pilot start date | June 20 |
| Initial duration | Through at least the fall |
Local context and next steps
Schedevac flights are intended for patients who do not require immediate, emergency transfer but who need reliable transport to receive care. The province has acknowledged schedevac services have not always met demand, with cancellations and backlogs affecting Labrador communities. The pilot is framed as a response to that gap while the government continues work toward more equitable health‑care access across the province.
- Additional flights began June 20 and are funded as a provincial pilot.
- Officials say the measure has helped patients attend time‑sensitive treatments and specialist appointments.
- The pilot will run at least through the fall while officials monitor impacts.
Health officials and service providers will be watching whether the extra capacity meaningfully reduces delays and cancellations over the coming months, and whether the pilot can inform longer‑term changes to medical travel for Labrador communities.
Reporting from St. John's.
