PRHA Media Release | Obstetrician/Gynecologist recruited to Region

The Parkland Regional Health Authority (PRHA) is pleased to announce that it has successfully recruited a Royal College-eligible Obstetrician/Gynecologist.

Dr. Yusuf Mohammed Kasim, who is currently working in Ireland, is set to start in Parkland Region in early July 2011. Dr. Kasim will be providing specialist services based out of Swan River at the Swan Valley Health Centre. He will also be providing itinerant services out of Dauphin for the Dauphin Regional Health Centre.

PRHA Chief Executive Officer Kevin McKnight says with timely strategies and initiatives in place, the PRHA is optimistic it is moving in the right direction.

“Recruitment and retention of health care professionals in rural areas, especially specialists, is a challenging task. However, our Regional Medical Advisory Council continues to work on various strategies, including partnerships within the community level, to enhance recruitment efforts. We also, wherever possible, continue to utilize the supports the province has in place to assist with these efforts,” McKnight added.

Health Minister Theresa Oswald indicates provincial support is available through its Specialist Recruitment and Physician Resettlement Program.

“Targeting our resources wisely is supporting the recruitment and retention of doctors in rural areas. Since 1999, we have seen a net gain of 111 more rural doctors, a 22 per cent increase,” said Oswald. “We will continue to invest in successful recruitment and retention initiatives to ensure even more physicians continue to choose to practice in rural Manitoba.”

Swan River MLA, and Minister of Finance, Rosann Wowchuk, says with the recruitment of a specialist to Swan River, residents will get improved access to service.

“The region has worked hard to recruit a new specialist to Swan River, and their success is really going to make a difference in the community,” said Wowchuk. “By locating this new physician in Swan River, area residents will have better access to reliable, quality health care services.”

In conjunction with Manitoba Health, the PRHA is also working on operational plans for dental and cataract surgery that will be delivered out of Swan Valley Health Centre later this year.