The provincial government has awarded an $82 million, 20-year contract to Newfoundland and Labrador Health Alliance for the lease of the old Costco building in the capital city’s east end for the development of what’s being called an Ambulatory Care Hub.

The province says the contract is for $4.1 million annually over the next two decades.

The facility will provide a range of services that do not require overnight hospitalization including, physiotherapy, medicine and surgery clinics, general x-rays, and ultrasounds.

The goal according to the Department of Health, is to reduce demand at local hospitals, reduce wait times, allow for the expansion of emergency, surgery and cardiology services at local hospitals and increase the number of clinic spaces available to health care professionals.

It’s part of government’s ongoing efforts to change, and hopefully improve, the way health care services are delivered in the province.