More than 550 new post-secondary training seats are being added in 18 health care training program in Saskatchewan.
is according to Ministry of HealthWhich says it is committing more than $5.5 million to help create these seats, adding that it is part of the Health Human Resources (HHR) action plan.
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“We are taking several actions under our ambitious HHR action plan to steadily and continuously grow our health care workforce. This includes training more health care professionals at home, and recruiting within the province, across Canada and abroad ,” said Health Minister Paul Merriman.
“This training seat expansion significantly increases educational opportunities for Saskatchewan students in many health disciplines and will spur interest in training and working in health care in our great province.”
This expansion will begin for Fall 2023, and includes positions such as medical lab assistants, continuing care assistants, primary care paramedics, licensed practical nurses, pharmacy technicians, clinical psychologists, physical therapists, and mental health and addiction counselors.
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The province also noted that seats in specialty programs not available in Saskatchewan would also be purchased, including respiratory medicine, magnetic resonance imaging techniques, diagnostic medical sonography, occupational therapy, electro-neurophysiology and cardiac perfusion.
“This initiative will open up exciting new health career options to many more Saskatchewan students, giving them more access to training for the careers they choose,” said Advanced Education Minister Gordon Wyant.
The province noted that a public awareness campaign will also be conducted to let potential students know what programs and supports are available to them.
It added that loans, grants, aids, scholarships and tax credits are available for students taking these programs.
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