RETAINING AND RECRUITING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Released on May 23, 2002

Students who want to enter health professions will benefit today from

additional training seats and more bursary funding in exchange for a

commitment to work in Saskatchewan.



Health Minister John Nilson today outlined the allocation of $1.2 million

in new funding for additional bursaries and training seats in various

health training disciplines. The funding is part of $3 million announced

in the provincial budget for development of a health human resource

strategy as well as incremental funding for EMS training, as outlined in

the government's Action Plan for Health Care. The allocation of the

remaining $1.8 million will be announced later in the year as additional

retention and recruitment initiatives are developed.



"Retaining and recruiting health care professionals are top priorities of

this government," Nilson said. "Investing in our young people through the

bursary program is one way to keep them in Saskatchewan after they

graduate."



Funding for 220 new bursaries amounts to $800,000 and is in addition to

$1.9 million the department already provides for other bursaries. Sixty

bursaries will be awarded to Saskatchewan students studying to be

audiologists, prosthetists/orthotists, nuclear medicine technologists,

pharmacists, medical radiation and medical laboratory technologists, public

health inspectors, clinical psychologists, physical, occupational and

respiratory therapists and speech and language pathologists. Another 160

bursaries will be awarded to Saskatchewan students studying registered

nursing, registered psychiatric nursing, and licensed practical nursing.



Bursary recipients will get help with their tuition costs in exchange for a

commitment to work in the publicly funded system in Saskatchewan in

locations with the greatest need.



Approximately $400,000 has been allocated to establish six new training

seats targeted at cytology, sonography, and prosthetic and orthotic

technology. In addition SIAST has also established eight new seats for

training pharmacy technicians.



As well, $500,000 has been targeted in the 2002-03 budget to implement one

of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) initiatives announced in the Health

Action Plan. Eighty emergency medical responders (EMRs) will have the

opportunity to upgrade their training to an EMT- Basic level this year.

This is a first step toward the government's three-year commitment to

provide training for approximately 240 staff. The first priority will be

training EMRs currently working or volunteering in the EMS system in the

targeted areas of Moose Mountain, Keewatin Yatthé, Midwest, Living Sky,

Southwest, Southeast, Rolling Hills, Greenhead, and South Central. These

districts have been selected because they represent areas of the province

where the need for training is the greatest.



Students interested in applying for the bursaries should contact: (306) 787-

3060,

E-mail bursary@health.gov.sk.ca, or visit at health.gov.sk.ca.



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For more information, contact:



Myrna Stark Leader

Saskatchewan Health

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4083