Two more doctors have been hired in the Parkland Health Region through the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment program.
The two new doctors will practice in Spiritwood and Shellbrook.
The SIPPA program is unique to Saskatchewan and since its inception in 2011; it has brought more than 150 new doctors to the province.
Sixty-five of these doctors are currently practicing in northern health regions.
Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit says the north has always faced roadblocks when it comes to the provision of health care services.
“Sixty-five physicians are quite effective to help address some of the challenges for accessibility to health care in the north,” he says.
Ottenbreit also says the government’s first priority is to recruit doctors from Saskatchewan but the international doctors help meet the ongoing health care needs of the province.
He says many of the new graduate doctors in Saskatchewan end up practicing in the north.
“A lot of those residents are from places like the Prince Albert area,” he says. “They end up staying in the north and possibly practicing in the northern medical area.”
The program assesses international doctors on their ability and education before bringing them to the province to practice medicine.
Twenty more physicians are currently completing their assessments and if successful could begin practicing in the province later this winter.