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Saskatoon Doctor Hunt: Years Without Care
31 Oct
Summary
- Man has searched for a family doctor since age 10.
- Online list of available clinics stopped being published.
- Province aims to connect all residents with a doctor by 2028.
For years, Saskatchewan residents like Mitch Bellefleur have struggled to find family doctors, a challenge that began for him at age 10. The difficulty has been amplified since the province discontinued its online list of clinics accepting new patients, making it nearly impossible to identify available providers.
Bellefleur recounted his extensive search, involving inquiries with walk-in clinics and medical professionals, yet yielding little success. He expressed frustration that accessing healthcare has become a matter of chance rather than a fundamental right.
While nurse practitioners offer some support, they are not a complete solution for primary care needs. NDP MLA Keith Jorgenson pointed out the inefficiency of patients and clinics wasting time searching for attachments.
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill acknowledged the need for improved primary care access and stated that a patient attachment registry is being considered. The province has committed to attaching every Saskatchewan resident to a primary care provider by the end of 2028.
