Sask. health ministers face doctors' questions about COVID response, privatization

Saskatchewan's two ministers with health portfolios faced tough questions from doctors Friday about privatizing health services and the government's response to the fourth wave of COVID-19 — including criticism that the government is not taking a "multifaceted" approach to combating the disease.

"I think what's beyond frustrating for us is hearing you say that vaccination isn't working very well, but that's the only thing you're pushing forward," said Dr. Benjamin Leis, an assistant professor of general internal medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, to Paul Merriman and Everett Hindley.

Merriman, the minister of health, and Hindley, the minister of rural and remote health, were guests during a virtual question-and-answer session hosted by the Saskatchewan Medical Association, which has recently called on the government to bring in more measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

"Government leaders continue to ignore the advice of opposition, leaders of the medical profession," SMA president Dr. Eben Strydom said in the lead-up to the Q&A session. 

Leis was reacting to comments Merriman and Hindley had made in response to Leis asking what the province is doing to prevent a fifth wave.

"We care passionately about delivering high-quality care and right now we can't because hospitals are overwhelmed," Leis said.

As of early Thursday, there were 96 people in Saskatchewan ICUs, plus 24 former Saskatchewan ICU patients under care in Ontario — far above the 79 ICU beds the province can normally muster.

"The truth is," Leis continued, "no one is calling Saskatchewan's response to the pandemic a success, except members of the current government. And so I'd like to hear what kind of things, in order of priority, the government is considering doing to prevent a fifth wave, which is looming, and also what kind of things could be done to promote vaccination of our most vulnerable populations, including children who will be eligible very soon for the vaccine?"

Merriman said that if everyone would get vaccinated, there would be no discussion of a fifth wave. 

As of Thursday, 86 per cent of eligible people in the province had their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 79 per cent were fully vaccinated. Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, has said there is no reason why those numbers shouldn't stretch into the 90s. 

Merriman said Saskatchewan will hold steady to its current crop of public health measures, but that if the province's COVID-19 indicators worsen, the government would look at modifying its approach.

"This is not stagnant," he said. 

Merrian pointed to the province's proof-of-vaccination program and its plans, touted in recent days, to resume health services delayed by the fourth wave.

On the vaccine front, Merriman said the government will work with educators on upcoming efforts to vaccinate children aged 5 to 11.