Letter To SHA Regarding Health Care
We are all aware of the challenges health care faces in Saskatchewan (and across Canada). One such problem that Kindersley and the surrounding area faces is attracting and retaining physicians—for a region of the province that has much to offer, we see a high turnover of doctors.
Recently, we were given this letter with the hopes it may highlight the feelings of an individual in town. As we like to share both sides of the story, we reached out to the SHA, and their response is included below.
Letter from resident:
SHA Response:
“The Saskatchewan Health Authority, saskdocs and its partners are constantly recruiting physicians through the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) program and other recruitment activities.
In addition to the hundreds of physicians who have been recruited and continue to practice in the province through the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA), the province continues to train more doctors at home through a number of initiatives that include: the expansion of medical student seats and residency seats at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine; Increasing rural training through family medicine residency training sites in Prince Albert, Swift Current, La Ronge, North Battleford, and Moose Jaw; training opportunities in Estevan, Meadow Lake and La Ronge allowing medical students to spend their third year of clinical training in a rural community; and, creation of a rural physician locum pool for rural and remote communities to draw from should they experience physician vacancies.
More recently the Government of Saskatchewan announced the Rural Physician Incentive Program to help attract family physicians to rural communities, like Kindersley, is increasing to $200,000. That is more than four times the previous amount. Details on this can be found on the Government of Saskatchewan website here: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2023/march/15/physician-incentive-program-increased-to-200000-to-attract-more-family-physicians-to-rural-and-north.”
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