The provincial government has expanded the number of seats available for its medical flight services in Labrador.

Health Minister Lela Evans made the announcement earlier today.

The Schedevac program, provided through Air Borealis through Medavie Helath NL, was launched nearly a month ago, and since then an additional 117 people have availed of the service.

Evans says limited access to healthcare has gone on for “far too long,” and the number of people who are bumped off flights in and out of the Big Land has continued to rise.

“We looked at what was the greatest barrier for patients in northern Labrador to be able to access timely and adequate health care. But the communities don’t have road connection,” she told reporters.

“They have small clinics. So if they need to see a doctor, or if they need some sort of treatment, or if they need a scan, or any kind of comprehensive testing, they actually have to fly at least as far as Happy Valley Goose Bay.”