The B.C. government is ramping up funding for MRI scans to clear the backlog of patients on wait lists.

Health Minister Terry Lake said the four-year plan will boost the annual number of MRIs by 65,000.

Patients wait an average of 256 days for a magnetic-resonance imaging scan, and the government should have taken action long ago, he said.

"We should have acted sooner," Lake said Wednesday. "I would agree that this is one that's been out there for a while. The radiologists have certainly been letting us know about it."

He said efforts to balance the province's budgets meant less money for MRI tests,

Each of B.C.'s health authorities has committed to increasing the number of MRI exams by 45 per cent a year over four years by extending hours and possibly contracting out the service.

The government will add $20 million annually in funding for the extra services by the end of the fourth year.

Under the plan patients will have MRI tests booked during evening hours or on weekends.

Lake said he expects drastic reductions in MRI wait times over the next four years.

Dr. Stuart Silver, acting medical director of medical imaging services for Island Health, said reducing wait times for MRIs will make big differences for patients.

"If you are waiting for a test like an MRI, your life's on hold," he said.

Premier Christy Clark said an aging population means provincial health authorities also face increasing demand for MRI services.

She said the current budget surplus gives the government money to support programs such as increased MRI tests, which use a magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed internal images of the body to diagnose conditions including tumours and soft-tissue injuries.

Finance Minister Mike de Jong hinted earlier this week that B.C.'s economy is showing signs of growth while other provinces are reporting declines.

De Jong forecast a budget surplus of $277 million two months ago.