The doctor situation in both Canora and Kamsack should improve shortly.

Three doctors have been recruited for Canora, which would bring the facility there up to its full complement of four with Dr, Newstead returning to work part time in August, explained Suann Laurent’s Chief Executive Officer report to the regular monthly meeting of the Sunrise Health Region Board Thursday.

A doctor has also been recruited for Kamsack and the arrival would bring the compliment to four, which is also deemed a full complement.

For four doctors are all from overseas, and so are currently going through the process for accreditation, explained Dr. Michael Bishop, Vice-president of Medical Services with SHR.

Bishop said the process for accreditation is a detailed one, but the Saskatchewan government has created a system which can fast-track candidates willing to work in rural hospitals, which are generally more difficult to recruit for.

That said Bishop said candidates must first show documentation from recognized training universities, be able to speak English, and pass screenings before entering the program.

Once accepted they go a three-week SIPPA program in Saskatoon where they are evaluated and marked. The course operates every few months, with about 30-candidate doctors who have been nominated by a health region, said Bishop, adding the last cycle about 25 per cent of those in the program did not pass the initial course.

Once through the three-week course, doctors are assigned to hospitals in a health region where they are not moving, and are further evaluated before being given full accreditation.

Once through the placement process they are licensed to practice in Canada, and can assume their positions. But even then they are monitored, said Bishop noting they are partnered with a mentor who they sit down periodically over their first year, as a way to help deal with any issues which might arise.

The four doctors for Canora and Kamsack could start in January provided they pass through the course without issue.