MORE BURSARIES PROMISE MORE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Students who want to enter health professions will benefit today from bursary funding in exchange for a commitment to work in Saskatchewan. Health Minister John Nilson today announced details of more than 500 new and continuing bursaries.

"Retaining and recruiting key health professionals in urban, rural and northern communities is a top priority of this government, and it is a priority we committed to in our Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care which we announced in December 2001," Nilson said. "I believe that investing in our young people through the bursary program is one way to keep them in Saskatchewan after they graduate."

The provincial government is devoting $4 million this year to support return-service bursary programs in the health field, as announced in the provincial budget last month. More than 60 new bursaries will be offered to Saskatchewan students studying health sciences disciplines, including pharmacy; nuclear medicine; cytology; medical resonance imagery; medical radiation and medical laboratory technology; physical, occupational and respiratory therapy; prosthetic and orthotic technology; speech language pathology; audiology; public health inspection and clinical psychology.

More than 200 new bursaries will be targeted to Saskatchewan students studying to be registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, licensed practical nurses, primary care nurse practitioners, and those wishing to re-enter nursing. As well, a new bursary will be offered to five nurses in graduate studies who agree to teach at one of Saskatchewan's post-secondary educational institutions upon graduation. This initiative will help to fill the vacant nursing teaching positions at post-secondary institutions in Saskatchewan.

In partnership with the Saskatchewan Medical Association, the government is offering 50 bursaries throughout the year to students and residents studying medicine. As well, the government is targeting 80 bursaries to students studying to be emergency medical technicians.

Students receiving these new bursaries will join 150 other students with ongoing, multi-year bursaries.

Bursaries are provided with a service commitment to work in the province's publicly funded health system.

Closing date for nursing and health sciences bursaries is May 16th. Students are encouraged to check the Saskatchewan Health Web site for application details on all bursaries.

Students interested in applying for the bursaries should contact (306) 787-7955, e-mail bursary@health.gov.sk.ca, or visit at www.health.gov.sk.ca

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Vanessa Gooliaff Beaupre Health Regina Phone: (306)787-4083