PROVINCIAL STRATEGIC HEALTH HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING UNDERWAY

Saskatchewan Health is following through on its commitment to develop a strategic health human resource plan for the province. First Ministers from across Canada identified health human resource issues as a priority when they met last September and agreed to create strategies to address training, recruitment and retention.

"A health human resources plan for Saskatchewan will help us identify initiatives to address shortages in the number of health providers and will point to ways to improve health workplaces," Health Minister John Nilson said. "It will build on strategies introduced in the province's Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care, released in December 2001."

In the months ahead, Saskatchewan Health will work with its partners in the health system to help define the issues, goals, objectives and potential solutions to the province's health human resource challenges.

The development of a health human resource plan is part of the government's ongoing commitment to recruit and retain health providers and to improve health workplaces in the province.

Saskatchewan Health, along with health care provider organizations and health regions, has made significant progress in this area since the Action Plan was introduced four years ago. Key initiatives include:

· Training and educating more health care providers;

· Developing a workforce that represents the people it serves;

· Expanding bursary programs for needed health care professionals;

· Expanding continuing education and development;

· Improving workplace environments; and,

· Committing to health sciences education and research.

Developing a provincial health human resources plan is another major step toward addressing the province's retention and recruitment issues.

The plan will become public by December 31st.

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For More Information, Contact:

Jocelyn Argue Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-4083