The Official Opposition is highlighting data from the Canadian Institute of Health Information which shows that there are fewer doctors and nurses in rural Saskatchewan than there were in 2018, the year Scott Moe became Premier. Saskatchewan lost a net of 35 physicians to other provinces, the second highest among the provinces next to Alberta, which lost 72 doctors. British Columbia gained 112.

Health Critic Vicki Mowat says there were 2,234 rural and remote registered nurses, but the most recent data indicates there are now only 1,760. It’s the largest nursing workforce drop of all the provinces. She believes one of the reasons for health care workers leaving their rural jobs is because they haven’t been listened to when it comes to retention and making changes, and the same goes for local leaders. She says, “They feel like there is not an opportunity to listen to local voices in health care. What’s needed in one community might be different in another community and local leaders have the solutions.

Health Minister Everett Hindley says they have increased the rural physician incentive program to $200,000 over five years and he believes the recent contract agreement with the Saskatchewan Medical Association which includes a new model of remuneration will also help.