A shortage of family doctors in Estevan has been at least partially solved as of Monday, February 3. According to St. Joseph's Hospital, two new doctors have joined the team, both with years of experience and fully certified having completed the rigorous training program in Saskatchewan.

Dr. Navjot Pannu and Dr. Nihar Desai, both originally from India, have now started their family practices at the Estevan Medical Group in the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation Clinic adjacent to the Hospital. This, according to a release from the hospital, brings the total number of family doctors in Estevan up to ten. 

"We're thrilled to welcome two new physicians to the community," said Greg Hoffort, Executive Director of St. Joseph’s Hospital. "Dr. Pannu and Dr. Desai have both just recently completed their SIPPA (Saskatchewan International Physicians Practice Assessment Program) training, so they're licensed and ready for practice, and they'll be starting very shortly here at the hospital."

Long waiting lists and cramped schedules have, according to Hoffort, been problems at hospitals all over the country, and St. Joseph's has been no exception. With the recent departure of two other doctors, two new ones coming in is a major boon for the Southeast. 

"It's really important at this time, we're obviously down in physician numbers somewhat," Hoffort said. "To have two new physicians join at the same time is a welcome addition to the medical staff. We look forward to what they'll bring to the community."

Both Dr. Pannu and Dr. Desai practiced in India before arriving in Canada. Dr. Pannu practiced for twenty years in India, and has spent the last three in Milton, Ontario, studying to become a fully licensed professional in Canada. Dr. Desai has been a physician for ten years, and was working with Alberta Health Services in Calgary while preparing for his Canadian qualifying examinations. 

Both physicians are recent graduates of the Saskatchewan International Physicians Practice Assessment Program, SIPPA. SIPPA is the program offered in Saskatchewan to provide competency assessment of international physicians prior to licensing in Saskatchewan. Both physicians have received their License from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan and have received privileges from the Saskatchewan Health Authority prior to their arrival in Estevan.

While the hospital will be pleased to see both doctors arrive, Hoffort says they're not done looking for new physicians just yet. They may even have some potential candidates on the horizon.

"We're still actively recruiting," he said. "We have one more physician in the present SIPPA recruitment competency assessment program, with a view to them starting in four months if they are successful. We're in discussions with several other physicians. Recruiting is certainly an ongoing process. Recognizing that we're competing against the entire country for family physicians, we're thrilled that two are starting now."