SASKATOON — Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Lori Carr assured the public that the provincial government’s Patients First Healthcare Plan is protected from financial pressures, as providing patient care remains one of their top priorities.
Carr, who is also the Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Minister, told SaskToday that she was part of the team that crafted the health-care plan along with the Ministry of Health, led by Minister Jeremy Cockrill, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and the numerous patients they consulted.
“The people, they actually helped make this plan. The people that we listened to were the patients. This is all about putting patients first and taking their point of view and what they want to see for their care,” said Carr, the Estevan-Big Muddy MLA.
She added that they also consulted with and listened to the concerns of health-care and other frontline workers across all communities and facilities where they worked, ensuring that budget challenges do not translate into reduced services for residents.
Premier Scott Moe, during the program’s announcement, acknowledged that financial challenges are being felt across the country due to geopolitical uncertainty, especially the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Carr, however, said health care will not be compromised to address fiscal concerns.
She emphasized that even during difficult financial periods, people across the province should expect to continue receiving the health care and other services they rely on, since the plan was designed with flexibility, allowing it to adapt as needs change over time.
That flexibility extends to workforce planning, particularly in recruiting surgeons, where Carr said there is no fixed hiring target. Instead, recruitment efforts will continue through the Saskatchewan Health Recruitment Agency until surgical wait times become reasonable for patients.
She added that, with rural health under her portfolio, improving access in rural and remote communities is also central to the plan, with the province building on existing virtual care programs, including the current virtual physician program.
Carr said the virtual physician program has supported about 30 rural sites and has already prevented thousands of potential emergency room disruptions across Saskatchewan. They plan to expand that program further, adding more sites to improve access to care outside major urban centres.
She added that the government is increasing its reliance on nurse practitioners, with 23 currently under contract across the province, and more contracts will be offered, with no cap on hiring, as the province looks to meet demand in underserved areas.
“Under the new plan, NPs will work in team-based environments alongside registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and other health professionals, allowing clinics to treat more patients. This is about putting patients first,” said Carr.
“The broader healthcare strategy is designed as a ‘living document,’ meaning it can be adjusted if certain approaches are not producing the desired results. Any changes will be informed by ongoing feedback from patients, frontline health-care workers and communities across Saskatchewan.”
She added that those who use and provide health care play a central role in shaping the system, and that the government wanted to avoid setting a strict timeline to achieve all of its goals, acknowledging the evolving nature of healthcare.
Instead, they are focused on moving as quickly as possible by removing barriers, updating regulations or legislation when needed and embracing innovation.
