The provincial government has announced it is providing $3 million, a $1.5 million increase, in funding for the rural physician locum pool.
The pool is accessed to provide services to rural communities.
"Retaining and recruiting doctors to rural Saskatchewan is a big priority for us," Rural and Remote Health Minister Randy Weekes said. "We are committed to building a 20 physician locum pool to provide additional coverage to rural doctors. We want to make sure all Saskatchewan residents have access to physician services."
This year's funding will allow every health region to have at least one full time locum position, a government press release states. The allotment will fund approximately 12 full-time locum positions.
"We're pleased to receive the news of the increase in resources for the rural locum pool," Prairie North Health Region's Senior Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Murray said. "This service has helped our region provide continuing care when our local practitioners are in need of relief. Our rural communities benefit directly from the ability to maintain physician services during these times."
Since the program's inception in May 2012, locum physicians have helped stabilize physician services in rural communities such as Maple Creek, Leader, Shaunavon, Kelvington, Kipling, Maidstone, Balcarres and La Ronge.
"We had the opportunity to engage the services of a regional rural locum," Cypress Health Region's Senior Medical Officer Dr. Ivo Radevski said. "It worked very well for our rural physicians and patients, allowing us to provide relief to rural communities and reduce disruption of services. I am very pleased that the ministry has decided to enhance and strengthen the program by providing additional funding."
The program is administered by Saskatchewan's health regions.
