Access to prompt, primary health care in rural and remote communities is being shown as a high priority of the provincial government as new pilot projects and initiatives emerge.  

This includes publicly funded and independently operated Nurse Practitioner Clinics and creating 25 new positions to hire NPs around the province. 

According to minister of health, Everett Hindley, it hasn’t been decided yet where the clinics will be popping up.  

“In the weeks ahead as we make those decisions, we'll make announcements on where those new nurse practitioner resources will be located,” he said. “We'll be working closely with community leaders and those within the Sask. Association of Nurse Practitioners to identify where those additional resources will be." 

Southwest Medi Centre in Swift Current welcomed an NP to its office in January of this year, which has shown positive results. NPs can cover all primary health care patients similar to a physician.  

Nurse Practitioners are better utilized throughout the health care system currently in place, it could benefit the province immensely. 

While this is all that's set in stone for the time being, the Ministry of Health and the SHA will continue to explore other ways to expand the roles of NPs, including in settings other than primary health care.