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Fourteen new internationally trained doctors are working in rural parts of the province.
According to the Ministry of Health, the doctors completed the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment in May. The program assesses the training of doctors who went to school outside of Canada as part of the process of licensing them to practise in Saskatchewan. The doctors commit to a minimum of three years of working in the province through a return-of-service contract after completing the assessment.
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“The contributions of our internationally trained physicians, who have chosen to build their careers in Saskatchewan, play an important role in supporting our health care services,” Dr. Jon Witt, the program’s director, said in a statement.
“Their commitment, alongside our collective efforts, helps ensure we continue to support the health care needs of Saskatchewan communities.”
The program is also increasing its capacity up from 45 by “an additional six to eight seats which will be divided across the three assessment cohorts throughout the year.”
According to the ministry, the program has allowed 307 doctors to practise in Saskatchewan, and 74 per cent of them are working in rural areas, which have seen significant shortages of doctors and other health-care workers since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health Minister Tim McLeod said the program is a crucial piece of the government’s plan to attract and retain talented doctors.
“Ensuring that rural Saskatchewan has a robust health care system requires attracting and retaining top talent,” McLeod said in a statement.
“We are committed to supporting this program and welcoming these dedicated professionals as they contribute to the health and wellbeing of our province.”
Dr. Susan Shaw, the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s chief medical officer, said the organization is thrilled to welcome the new physicians.
“Their commitment to practicing medicine in rural, northern and remote areas enhances our ability to provide care as close to home as possible,” Shaw said. “Together, we are building a future where every community receives the compassionate, high-quality care it deserves.”
Doctors who work in rural areas of Saskatchewan may be eligible for up to $200,000 over five years through the province’s Rural Physician Incentive Program, the ministry noted, in order to improve retention rates and boost recruitment.
Saskatchewan’s recruitment and retention efforts for doctors have come under scrutiny recently, with Dr. Isabelle Richard, Quebec-trained a family physician, penning a column in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix explaining why she’s leaving the province.
Richard called the system in Saskatchewan “a mess,” and noted that pay for family doctors is “not competitive.” She noted that in B.C. she is paid for her time as well as for each patient visit, which incentivizes good medicine.
Responding to the concerns, Premier Scott Moe said recruiting health-care professionals is not a problem exclusive to Saskatchewan.
“It is a Canadian challenge and we do talk about it actively at our premiers’ table,” Moe said.
Moe added that the province is working towards the type of type of blended-capitation model used in B.C.
“We just signed an agreement with the Saskatchewan Medical Association,” Moe said.
The province also recently launched a $10 million innovation fund for Saskatchewan physicians.
The fund aims to “support physician-generated ideas that will deliver better access to primary care in the province,” with the key objectives of improving access and quality of care for patients and improving work-life balance for doctors.