The funds would see more than 7400 additional surgeries and endoscopies performed.

Premier Peter Gutwein said it was part of a $156.4 million investment over four years, to deliver an additional 22,3000 elective surgeries and endoscopies.

"We will prioritise 2021-22, providing an extra 8300 surgeries statewide, bringing our total volume for that year to more than 22,800 surgeries in one year - almost twice the size of the waiting list, and the largest year of surgery ever in Tasmania," he said.

"More than 180 staff statewide are expected to support this increase in volume, including more than 112 nurses, 10 doctors, 16 allied health staff as well as more than 40 hospital support staff."

Mr Gutwein said the increase in the wait-list was due to the suspension of non-urgent elective surgery during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Under this policy, a majority Liberal Government will invest this new funding on top of the $36.4 million already budgeted for 2021-22, which will fund these additional surgeries and supporting additional staff as we secure Tasmania's future," he said.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The wait-list is currently sitting at over 12,000.

In March, Australian Medical Association Tasmania president Dr Helen McArdle told The Examiner that wait-list blowouts were a nation wide trend.

READ: Tasmania's elective surgery wait-list blows out

"I think everything comes down to funding in the end, because if you've got more funding you can build infrastructure and you can employ more staff," she said.

"We are a small state and it's very difficult to find additional funds. I know both from a government and a hospital perspective, enormous amount of work goes on to manage waiting lists and to manage patients in a timely manner, but all those factors come into play."

Incumbent Bass MHA Sarah Courtney said the investment would cover a wide range of surgeries, targeting the pandemic backlog to see significantly reduced waiting lists and times.

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