The province is a step closer to recruiting family physicians from India. A Saskatchewan delegation recently returned from a first-ever recruitment mission to the country.
Saskdocs (the Physician Recruitment Agency of Saskatchewan), along with a physician and a health region representative, met with 440 physicians from India interested in living and working in Saskatchewan.
"The Physician Recruitment Trip to India was an initiative aimed at increasing the number of physicians working in Saskatchewan," Health Minister Dustin Duncan said. "India trains far more doctors than it needs, these professionals are looking to work outside their country and many are willing to practice in our rural and remote settings.
The expansion of the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) program in May 2012 opened up opportunities to recruit physicians from a wider range of countries, giving saskdocs this unique opportunity to travel to India and meet with physicians face-to-face. The delegation held educational sessions in Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai and Chennai from November 16 to 30.
"The November trip was the first phase of the India campaign. The second phase, scheduled for June 2013, will see many of the delegation's initial members return to India to offer contracts to those physicians who are eligible for licensure and assessment in Saskatchewan.
Any physician interested in practising in Saskatchewan is encouraged to visit the saskdocs website at www.saskdocs.ca or send an email to [email protected].
