Doctor Shortage Worst in Northern Saskatchewan

Doctor Shortage Worst in Northern Saskatchewan

Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 13:16

The doctor shortage in Canada’s north is far worse than that in the south, and the worst in Saskatchewan, according to the Conference Board of Canada’s most recent report.

Derrick Hynes of the conference board says Northern Saskatchewan has the least amount of doctors of any region: the 2006 census says there are 10 doctors, or 3 for every 10,000 people.

He says that shortage is compounded by the fact people live in small, remote communities and don’t necessarily have quick and easy access to doctors, forcing them to travel hundreds or thousands of kilometres for medical care.

Other northern regions with a severe shortage include Nunavut with 5 doctors for every 10,000 people, northern Newfoundland and Labrador with 8, and northern Alberta with 10.

Southern regions with the lowest ratios are Prince Edward Island at 16 and New Brunswick with 20.