Health Minister Paul Merriman. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME file photo)

By CJME News

Saskatchewan delegation ready for recruiting trip to Philippines

Nov 24, 2022 | 12:23 PM

Officials from Saskatchewan are to hit the road Friday in hopes of recruiting healthcare workers.

A delegation is scheduled to head to the Philippines on a five-day mission as part of Saskatchewan’s Health Human Resources Action Plan.

Health Minister Paul Merriman is to lead the delegation, which also will include government officials and representatives from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatchewan’s two universities and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

“I am honoured to lead Saskatchewan’s delegation on this important mission that builds on our province’s strong and meaningful relationship with the Philippines,” Merriman said in a media release Thursday.

“I look forward to connecting with leadership within the Philippine government and discussing how we can work together in health care and other areas. I’m also looking forward to meeting members of Saskatchewan’s future healthcare workforce as our government works to strengthen health services across the province.”

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The government launched the action plan in hopes of adding more than 1,000 employees to its healthcare system. That will include hundreds of workers who are to be recruited over the next two years from abroad.

To date, the government said, the SHA has made 20 offers to candidates from the Philippines for continuing care assistant positions and two for medical lab assistant positions. As well, 70 registered nurses from the Philippines have started the process of joining Saskatchewan’s workforce and another 40 Filipino applicants are going through the process.

Four Ukrainian newcomers also have been hired by Saskatchewan healthcare officials.

According to the release, the delegation set to leave Friday will look to “advance long-term collaboration and exchanges between Saskatchewan and Philippine post-secondary institutions on curriculum, alignment of nurse training programs and the development of pathways to fast-track Filipino health sciences graduates into the Saskatchewan labour market.”

The mission will focus on recruiting registered nurses, continuing care assistants and other high-priority professions. To that end, a number of information sessions are planned to help possible recruits with the licensing and regulatory process, immigration process, relocation supports and other information. More interviews are scheduled during the trip.

The authority also has interviewed and conditionally offered jobs to six internationally trained nurses who already are in Saskatchewan.

The government is offering incentives to attract healthcare workers to rural and remote areas of the province. So far, the government said, four healthcare workers have been given incentive packages of up to $50,000 over three years for a return-of-service agreement in Meadow Lake, Wilkie, Kamsack and Weyburn.

As well, the program is creating new full-time positions and converting part-time positions to full-time positions in nine high-priority classifications in rural and remote locations that have been experiencing service disruptions.

To date, the government said 66 positions have been filled and hiring is underway for 64 positions.

Watrous, Kipling and Big River have been added to the list of eligible locations, meaning 50 rural and remote locations have been targeted for additional staffing.

“We’re working aggressively to address the pressing need for more health-care staff, especially in high-demand occupations and rural and remote areas,” Minister of Rural and Remote Health Everett Hindley said. “We’re spreading the word far and wide that opportunities are available at every stage, from recent graduates to experienced professionals from here and abroad. Saskatchewan is a great place to build your career and enjoy a high quality of life.”