More Doctors Begin Practising in Saskatchewan

Released on November 6, 2014

Access to Physician Care Continues to Improve 

Nineteen new doctors are practising in Saskatchewan, thanks to the most recent results of the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) program.

Since the program began in 2011, more than 150 new family physicians have completed the assessment and have fulfilled or are fulfilling their service commitment to the province.

SIPPA is a unique, made-in-Saskatchewan program that assesses International Medical Graduates (IMGs) on their medical education and clinical ability before allowing them to practise medicine in Saskatchewan.

“We welcome all of these new physicians to reinforce our strong and growing province,” Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit said.  “While our first priority is to recruit graduates from the University of Saskatchewan, we rely on international graduates to help us meet the health care needs of our residents.  People all over Saskatchewan have better access to physician services because of the SIPPA program.”  

“I recognize the continuing need to have more family physicians serving patients across Saskatchewan, and I am encouraged by the success of these latest SIPPA graduates,” Medical Director of SIPPA for the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan Dr. Jon Witt said.  “SIPPA is proving to be one valuable avenue we can use to address our need for more family doctors.  I am very pleased to be working with our rural communities, saskdocs and the province to provide IMGs with opportunities to live and work in Saskatchewan.”

In addition, a total of 20 new IMGs entered the SIPPA program last month and are now completing their clinical field assessments.  If successful, these 20 family physicians will begin practising across the province later this winter.

“The saskdocs team was pleased to work with the health regions, our SIPPA program partners, community leaders and other physicians to recruit these doctors,” saskdocs’ CEO Dr. Dennis Kendel said.  “We will continue to meet the physician needs of communities and health regions through the ongoing recruitment of locally and internationally-trained physicians.”

Physicians interested in working in Saskatchewan are encouraged to contact saskdocs directly at info@saskdocs.ca or call toll-free (in North America) 1-888-415-3627 or 306-933-5000.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083

James Winkel
saskdocs
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-933-5094

Laura Herman
College of Medicine
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-262-6059