Four new family physicians are now practising in Maidstone and Lloydminster as a result of the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment program.
Drs. Mojtahedi and Dato of Maidstone and Drs. Limjuico and Steyl of Lloydminster join other International Medical Graduate colleagues already practising in Saskatchewan. According to a press release, SIPPA is a unique, made-in-Saskatchewan program that assesses IMGs on their education and clinical ability before allowing them to practise medicine. The program is administered by the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine. Since the program began in 2011, 134 more doctors are practising in communities across the province.
"Patients from all across Saskatchewan have better access to family doctors because of this program," minister responsible for Rural and Remote Health Tim McMillan said. "SIPPA is one of many initiatives that is helping us meet the health care needs of our growing population. In total, there are over 400 more doctors practising in the province than there were seven years ago."
"While we continue to recruit and retain our own locally trained physicians, SIPPA is helping us fill immediate vacancies throughout the province," said Erin Brady, saskdocs' interim CEO. "This unique, made in Saskatchewan program is allowing more IMGs to practise here and that is good news.
"We are seeing more IMGs from within Canada apply and that is encouraging because we have been working hard at reaching out to this particular group."
"SIPPA offers an assessment opportunity for internationally trained physicians who would otherwise not be eligible to practise in Saskatchewan," said Dr. Penny Davis, medical director of SIPPA for the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan.
"This program ensures each candidate meets both the clinical requirements to practise medicine in Saskatchewan, as well as meeting the unique health care needs of specific communities."
In addition to the 134 practicing physicians already in place, 21 new IMGs are now completing their clinical field assessments as part of the program's May intake. If successful, these physicians will begin practising across the province later this summer.
In collaboration with the health regions, saskdocs continues to recruit physicians through direct recruitment initiatives, establishing relationships with medical students and residents, local, national and international advertising, and attending career fairs at home and abroad, the release states.
