PH nurses being readied for a Canada province’s emergency rooms

Health care professionals dealing with Covid surge last year.  (Pascal Rossignol/Reuters)

More than 70 Filipino nurses are already being prepared for Saskatchewan, Canada’s emergency rooms, as the provincial government evaluates more than 3,000 applications from health-care workers in the Philippines.

However, Saskatchewan will ease in only some 30 recruits monthly so as not to clog its health-care system with the necessary training and workplace adjustments.

Recruits from the Philippines are given support including training programs, licensing, and resettlement costs.

But the risk of a backlash against the recruitment program appeared as opposition New Democratic Party criticized provincial Minister of Health Paul Merriman for allegedly not helping current health care workers who are already wrestling with overtime and packed emergency room.

Opposition Leader Carla Beck (Regina-Lakeview) accused Merriman of “not consulting with the nurses, with the physicians, with the health-care provider unions” and municipalities in finding solutions.

“All we’ve heard from members opposite are excuses,” Beck said during question period at the legislature in Regina, according to a CBC report.