Positive healthcare news for the Town of Kindersley came in last week. The west-central community was included in a government release detailing 14 new doctors to Saskatchewan, hired through the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment.

New Kindersley doctor Amarachi Ebere was part of the group that completed the most-recent program in December. The other communities on the list included Canora, Rosthern, Radville, Wynyard, Kelvington, Carlyle, Melville, Wadena, Broadview, Davidson, and Meadow Lake.

"Over the past 12 years, 539 physicians from around the world have successfully completed the SIPPA program." stated the release. "Currently, 304 are practicing in the province, 77 per cent of whom have established practice in rural or regional communities."

Comments from Rural and Remote Health Minister Tim McLeod detailed SIPPA as an important branch of their ongoing physician recruitment efforts, and that they aren't only pleased to welcome in physicians, but new Saskatchewan families as well. The release shared how the government is, "planning is underway to further increase the number of training seats that SIPPA offers", seeking an expansion from 36 to 45 seats every year through the Saskatchewan Health Human Resources Action Plan.  

More of the province's efforts into rural healthcare recruitment also include: 

  • A competitive new four-year contract which includes a general rate increase as well as increased funding to support long term retention, parental leave and continuing medical education.
  • The Rural Physician Incentive Program also offers up to $200,000 over five years to help recruit physicians to rural and regional communities.

Find more comments from SIPPA's program director at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine, and the SHA's Chief Medical Officer here.