Recruitment/Retention of Medical Professionals
Year: 2007
Resolution
Be it resolved that SUMA lobby the Province and the Universities to attract more students into the Medical programs and offer an incentive like Student Loan reduction if they work in a rural community for a minimum of 3 to 5 years.
Provincial Response
Response: Recruitment and retention of health professions is a key priority for our government, and we work closely with regional health authorities and other partners in this regard, in our 2007-08 Budget, we increased enrolment in various health profession programs including twelve new seats at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine to be implemented over three yeas, beginning with four seats in the fall of 2007. In addition to expanding training seats, we have a number of incentives and supports to facilitate recruitment and retention of health professional including physicians. In addition we have a number of bursaries available for medical students, who in return for receiving the bursary, sign on to a return-of-service commitment to rural Saskatchewan.
