GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE RENEWAL PLAN

The Saskatchewan Government announced today it will increase funding to the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine to ensure ongoing accreditation of the College. The College and the Academic Health Network have identified that the incremental cost to government will be approximately $13 million by the sixth year of implementation. The money will be used to hire additional faculty and make library improvements.

The university and the Network outlined a six-year renewal framework that will establish the College of Medicine on par with Canada's top quality medical colleges. The increased funding identified by the Network this year is close to $1.5 million. The government has also accepted the renewal framework as the basis for financial and program planning for subsequent years.

"I congratulate the College of Medicine on its approach to improvement," said Learning Minister Judy Junor, "Their new planning process, backed by the government's commitment to increased funding, will ensure the College continues to play a vital role in health care education, research, policy and practice. All partners are confident this plan fulfills the requirements of the Committee on Accreditation."

"We are committed to a strong College of Medicine in Saskatchewan," said Health Minister John Nilson. "This plan will allow the college to strengthen training programs for physicians at the main campus and to expand and strengthen training in other Saskatchewan communities. In turn, these measures will help create an environment that supports the retention and recruitment of health professionals – a key goal of the Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care.''

Saskatchewan Health will provide funding to hire additional clinical staff this year. Saskatchewan Learning will provide support for improved library services and other academic staff.

"We are extremely pleased that the government has endorsed our six-year strategy for the recruitment of faculty, expansion of research, enhancement of library and related resources and the extension of medical school programs," President of the University of Saskatchewan Peter MacKinnon said. "The immediate provision of first-year funding for this important initiative, coupled with a commitment to work co-operatively and expeditiously to finalize the full six-year funding plan, is precisely the response we require to address the College of Medicine's probationary status. Even more, it sets the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine on a clear path of renewal and revitalization."

The Government of Saskatchewan will work with the College on the year-to-year implementation of the framework for renewal. This work plan was designed with the help of the Academic Health Sciences Network, which includes the Saskatoon Health Region, the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, other provincial health regions, and the Province of Saskatchewan. Renewal of the College of Medicine will also benefit other health science colleges, the regional health authorities and health care providers throughout the province.

The College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

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For More Information, Contact:

John Biss Learning Regina Phone: (306)787-5900	Vanessa Gooliaff-Beaupre Health Regina Phone: (306)787-4083
Tina Merrifield University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Phone: (306)966-2213