[From the Memorial Gazette]

The first in a series of stories showcasing some of the partnerships between Memorial University and the province’s communities as part of our 100th-anniversary commemorations. Next up: Ocean Safety

While Canadians regularly boast about free health care, equal access to health care remains an issue for people living in rural communities.

Many of us can’t imagine not having a hospital to rush to during a heart attack, stroke or complicated pregnancy, but 47.2 per cent of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians live in rural municipalities where, on average, it takes residents 1.5 hours to access a medical care facility.

The ramifications are severe: Statistics Canada reports that mortality rates get higher the further one lives from a city with a hospital. Without innovation, rural residents will continue to receive unequal access to health care.

Read more of the Gazette's story HERE