The provincial government says a pilot program that flew patients into St. John’s for cardiac catheterizations has proven so successful, an RFP has been issued to establish the program on a permanent basis.

104 patients have undergone cardiac catheterization procedures to date through Heart Force One.

The patients were carried on 14 chartered flights from Labrador and Western Newfoundland for cardiac catheterization procedures in the capital city over the last year.

An RFP has now been issued for regular flights, closing on January 11.

Meanwhile, 163 orthopedic surgeries have occurred in St. Anthony and Carbonear while 216 same-day outpatient hip and knee replacement surgeries have been completed at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital.

A pilot has now been launched in Gander for knee replacement surgeries.

The measures were taken to try to draw down on surgical wait lists.