Officials at the Whitecap Dakota First Nation have plans to increase medical services to band members.

The community’s new 5,300-square-foot health centre is now officially open.

Chief Darcy Bear says a number of existing programs offered under Health Canada are offered in the $3.3-million centre.

Bear says talks are underway to bring in even more services, adding there is space now for a dental clinic, which the First Nation is hoping to open February 1st.

The chief says the band is currently in negotiations to bring in a general practictioner once a week, and to have an opthalmologist visit once a month.

Bear says, for now, the health centre will serve band members and about 500 employees who commute from Saskatoon.

He says agreements with health regions in the area could allow that service to expand to include other people in the future.