New Brunswickers in need of retinal care soon will not have to leave the province.

A new provincial surgery program is being established at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton.

The program, announced Friday, is a partnership between the Department of Health and the regional health authorities.

The province has committed up to $476,000 in startup costs and $926,000 in annual operating costs for the program.

New Brunswick is the final province to establish a formal retinal surgery program, according to a news release.

Around 600 New Brunswickers have had to travel to Quebec or Nova Scotia for treatment each year.

The program is expected to be in place later this year.