Sask. gov’t says recruitment plan has generated nearly 400 applications

The Saskatchewan government says its plan to recruit health-care professionals is having success.

In early September, the government announced it was seeking to add 1,000 workers to the health-care system through the Health Human Resources Action Plan.

In a media release Friday, the Ministry of Health revealed nearly 400 applications have been received to date from unlicensed, internationally educated Saskatchewan and/or Canadian residents.

“Saskatchewan is a place of great opportunity for everyone, including internationally trained health-care professionals, and I am pleased with the large number of applications this call-out has generated,” Health Minister Paul Merriman said in the release.

“Our aggressive, nation-leading Action Plan to recruit, train, incentivize and retain health-care workers will expand the workforce, stabilize health services across the province, and build a stronger health-care system ready to meet the needs of our growing province.”

The government invited those interested in a career in health care to fill out an assessment form to determine what supports could be available for them. Those include language classes, help navigating the licensing pathway, additional training, and financial assistance to support the costs associated with the licensing process.

The ministry said it’s reviewing the applications it has received and more are to be accepted. As well, the government plans to use four “health system navigators” to help recruit and retain internationally educated health-care workers from Canada and abroad.

“We offer excellent opportunities, incentives and supports for those interested in working in health care in Saskatchewan, including internationally trained health-care professionals,” Everett Hindley, Saskatchewan’s rural and remote health minister, said in the release.

“We’ll continue spreading the word that you can build a successful and rewarding health career here in Saskatchewan, where you can enjoy a great quality of life, raise a family and be part of a strong and supportive community.”

More information can be found here.

When the plan was announced in September, the government said it would be recruiting hundreds of workers from abroad over the next two years. A recruitment mission to the Philippines was being planned to promote opportunities in the province and a Memorandum of Understanding was to be negotiated with the Government of the Philippines.

At the time of the announcement, the NDP said the plan would fill only two-thirds of the 1,500 job postings that were on the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s website.