Saskatchewan Leads Canada in Pharmacist Supply and Workforce Growth

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Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-11-04 00:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Healthcare, Labour, Public Safety]

According to Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) data from the 2025 publication, Saskatchewan leads Canada in pharmacist supply at 14.3 pharmacists per 10,000 population and a workforce rate of 14.1 per 10,000 population, with total pharmacist supply growing by 16.9 per cent (from 1,554 to 1,816) and the workforce growing by 17.6 per cent (from 1,520 to 1,787) between 2016 and 2025. Supported by the Government of Saskatchewan's Patients First Health Care Plan, the province enacted a three-year Pharmacy Proprietor Agreement effective May 1, 2026, featuring a $13.8 million funding increase to support pharmacy sustainability and scope optimization. Recent provincial initiatives include training programs allowing pharmacists to perform therapeutic substitutions and assess and treat strep throat and ear infections, which have delivered more than 12,000 services across Saskatchewan as of late 2026.

Saskatchewan Launches New Respiratory Therapy Training Program

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-27 02:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Healthcare, Education, Labour]

The Government of Saskatchewan has invested over $8 million to develop and launch the province's first-ever Respiratory Therapy Advanced Diploma program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Regina campus. The funding supported renovations to create two new specialized laboratories and purchase modern equipment for the facility. The inaugural cohort welcomed its full capacity of 25 students this fall, who will complete a two-and-a-half-year program including hands-on clinical placements within Saskatchewan health care settings. This initiative is part of the broader Health Human Resource Action Plan and Patients First Health Care Plan to address provincial workforce shortages.

Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations Inc. and Health Provider Union Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations Inc. Reach Tentative Deal

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-24 01:16:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Labour, Healthcare]

The Saskatchewan Government Employees Union and the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations Inc. have reached a tentative six-year collective bargaining agreement spanning April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2029. The agreement covers approximately 2,040 employees in northern and central Saskatchewan across various health care roles, including Licensed Practical Nurses, Continuing Care Assistants, Medical Laboratory Technologists, and dietary and maintenance staff. Specific financial and contractual details remain withheld pending formal ratification by the union members and the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations Inc.

12 More Communities Added to Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive Program

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-08-26 22:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Healthcare, Labour]

The Government of Saskatchewan is expanding its Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive (RRRI) program by adding 12 new communities—Canwood, Cudworth, Eston, Hafford, Langenburg, Leask, Loon Lake, Norquay, Sandy Bay, Stoughton, Strasbourg, and Whitewood—effective September 1, 2026. The expansion brings the total number of participating communities to 94, offering incentive packages of up to $50,000 for a three-year return-in-service commitment in nine high-priority health care occupations. Funded by an $8.7 million allocation in the 2026-27 Provincial Budget, the RRRI program is part of the broader Health Human Resources Action Plan, which has helped reduce vacancies by 44 per cent across eligible communities and fill over 650 hard-to-recruit positions since 2022.