Majority of Sask.-trained specialists leaving province after graduation
REGINA - Today, the Saskatchewan NDP responded to the Medical Services Branch Annual Statistical Report for 2022-23. While other provinces make big gains, Saskatchewan is losing family doctors, gynecologists, diagnostic radiologists and other specialists at an alarming rate. Graduate retention rates also show that medical specialists trained in Saskatchewan are more likely to leave the province after completing their education than to stay.
“The numbers speak for themselves. This premier just isn’t getting the job done,” said Official Opposition Leader Carla Beck. “After 17 years, it’s time for a change. Saskatchewan can be a nation-leader in healthcare again, but it’ll take a new government with new ideas.”
Saskatchewan had 982 active general practitioners (family doctors) during Scott Moe's first year in office in 2018-19. The most recent available data shows that there are currently 968 active GPs, an overall decrease of 14. For comparison, British Columbia was up 708 GPs last year alone. Premier Moe has repeatedly stated on the record that his government has “the most ambitious human health resource plan in the nation of Canada”.
Women’s and rural healthcare have been disproportionately affected by Saskatchewan’s doctor exodus. Overall, the province lost 8 rural GPs, 3 pediatric specialists, 4 anesthesiologists, 4 obstetricians, 2 neurosurgeons, 3 pathologists/diagnostic radiologists, 2 neurosurgeons and a urological surgeon since Scott Moe came to power in 2018.
Active Physicians by type
|
Year |
Active GPs |
Rural GPs |
Pediatrics |
Anesthesia |
|
982 |
265 |
74 |
118 |
|
|
967 |
243 |
71 |
112 |
|
|
900 |
235 |
73 |
109 |
|
|
965 |
255 |
69 |
110 |
|
|
968 |
257 |
71 |
114 |
|
Year |
Obstetrics & Gynecology |
Pathology & Diagnostic Radiology |
Neurosurgery |
Urological surgery |
|
2018-19 |
67 |
99 |
15 |
18 |
|
2019-20 |
70 |
90 |
14 |
18 |
|
2020-21 |
66 |
109 |
14 |
18 |
|
2021-22 |
69 |
108 |
13 |
17 |
|
2022-23 |
63 |
96 |
13 |
17 |
“Most of the medical specialists trained in Saskatchewan are leaving the province after graduation because the Sask. Party government has no plan to retain them,” said Rural and Remote Health Critic Jared Clarke. “Many healthcare workers feel mistreated and ignored by this government. Doctors are leaving the province in droves and the government isn’t even conducting exit interviews to figure out why. There are simple solutions here.”
Graduate Retention Rates
|
Physician Type |
2018-19 |
2019-20 |
2020-21 |
2021-22 |
|
Family Medicine |
81% |
73% |
84% |
78% |
|
Specialists |
35% |
57% |
45% |
45% |
|
All physicians |
60% |
70% |
63% |
61% |
Here’s the retention breakdown from Saskatchewan’s June 2022 graduating class of physicians:
- 14% of pediatric specialists (1 out of 7) remained in the province. The graduating year prior, all four pediatric specialists left the province.
- 43% of psychiatrists (3 out of 7) remained in the province.
- 25% of specialists for physical medicine and rehabilitation (1 out of 4) remained in the province.
- 17% of general surgeons (1 out 6) remained in the province.
- 67% of diagnostic radiologists (2 out of 3) remained in the province. The graduating year prior, both of the 2 that graduated left the province.
- 50% of respiratory medicine specialists left the province.
- 38% for anesthesiologists (3 out of 8) remained in the province.
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