North To Benefit From Health Workforce Action Plan

North To Benefit From Health Workforce Action Plan

Thursday, December 15, 2005 at 15:21

Saskatchewan’s health minister says he’s optimistic real gains will be made by First Nations and Metis workers in the health field.

Yesterday, the province unveiled a new action plan targeted, in part, at improving the numbers and skills of Aboriginal health care providers.

Among other things, the government is establishing a provincial recruitment agency to oversee the placement of health professionals in “hard-to-recruit-to” areas, like northern Saskatchewan.

John Nilson says the Aboriginal nursing program in Prince Albert is just one example of an idea that has brought more Aboriginal youth into the health care field.

He says the next step is to expand that type of training module into other health-related areas.