Sask. NDP renews calls for government to do more to keep doctors in province

Last week, Regina family physician Dr. Tomi Mitchell announced she would be closing her practice after more than a decade providing care for residents.

The Saskatchewan NDP is raising concern again regarding doctors leaving the province.

Last week, Regina family physician Dr. Tomi Mitchell announced she would be closing her practice after more than a decade providing care for residents.

In February, emergency physician Dr. Kevin Wasko announced he took a job with a hospital in Mississauga, Ont.

Mitchell joined Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili and health care critic Vicki Mowat on Wednesday to highlight concern about how the government is handling the situation.

“We’ve seen a big drop as well in the number of procedures, the number of visits, the overall billing of physicians,” Meili said.

“This is directly related to a drop in providers, but also a drop in the care being provided because of the mismanagement of COVID-19,” Meili added.

Meili said it’s time the Saskatchewan Party government “admitted the seriousness of the problems and start working on an immediate response.”

Meili added the government needs to develop a human resource plan in order “to avoid the looming crisis of departures of nurses, care-aids and physicians.”