Beginning next week, the Government of Saskatchewan will undertake a targeted healthcare recruitment mission to Manila, Philippines to actively promote Saskatchewan's healthcare employment opportunities. This news was announced by Minister of Health Paul Merriman back on November 7th. 

"With a vibrant and growing Filipino-Canadian population, Saskatchewan has a strong and meaningful relationship with the Philippines. With the cooperation and support of the Consul General of the Philippines to Canada, Mr. Zaldy Patron, this mission will allow us to engage directly with Filipino healthcare workers and attract them to the province," Merriman said. "This initiative is one of the ways our government is delivering on our commitment to attract hundreds of additional healthcare workers to our friendly Saskatchewan communities which are eager to welcome them." 

Workshops and information sessions are planned and will be hosted over a five-day period in Manila, by the Saskatchewan travel group that includes Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) representatives who will interview on-site. According to the release, Merriman will lead the delegation and participate in targeted meetings with key officials from a number of partner agencies to reinforce the province's important relationship with the Philippines and explore innovative opportunities to strengthen the partnership. 

Efforts have been made in the province to recruit hundreds of new healthcare workers from abroad specifically, while in Manila, their specific target sees them focusing on the recruitment of qualified healthcare workers including registered nurses, continuing care assistants, and other high-priority professions.  

Another comment came from Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Everett Hindley.

"Our province has experienced success in welcoming Filipino nurses and other health care workers into our workforce and our communities. Saskatchewan is now home to a large and thriving Filipino community. We're already generating a lot of interest from the Philippines in the available healthcare jobs the province is currently looking to fill. We offer various incentives, settlement support, and assistance to spouses in finding employment in the province." 

The mission itself will advance long-term collaboration and exchanges between Saskatchewan and Philippine post-secondary institutions on curriculum, alignment of nurse training programs, and the development of pathways to fast-track Filipino health sciences graduates into the Saskatchewan labour market.

Not only with the minister be joined on the mission by fellow SHA representatives, but individuals from Saskatchewan's two universities and Saskatchewan Polytechnic will also be on hand. More programs are being targeted to a Philippine audience with the details of the mission, registration for information, and recruitment events in Manila, as well as upcoming webinars and other online tools and resources. 

Saskatchewan's HHR Action Plan announced in September will invest over $60 million and add more than 1,000 health professionals into the health system over the next few years.

Access more information on Saskatchewan's Health Human Resources plan here, as Saskatchewan is investing over $60 million and adding more than 1,000 health professionals into the health system over the next few years.