A report from the University of Regina’s Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit says the quality of rural healthcare is at stake, and patients ultimately take the burden of the systemic challenges and issues.

The report lists significant changes in recent years which have been factors including the amalgamation of regional health authorities into the Saskatchewan Health Authority, shutting down the Saskatchewan Transportation Company, the pandemic, and an emerging emphasis on virtual care. Major challenges for rural healthcare are staffing shortages, service disruptions, access to transportation and broadband access.

The report notes that while the number of nurse practitioners, RNs, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and physicians have increase in larger centers since 2017, the number in rural areas have fallen. Fewer staff and less access to specialists leads to wait times increasing.

In response to the report, CUPE Local 5430, the province’s largest health care union, is calling for urgent action from government to create more full-time positions in rural areas and to create a retention plan to keep workers in Saskatchewan’s health care system. CUPE says the SHA’s reliance on casual and part-time, rather than full-time positions is making short-staffing issues in rural areas even more challenging.

Click here for the full report.