Saskatchewan signs 19 nurse practitioners to boost primary-care access

Saskatchewan is expanding access to primary care by contracting 19 nurse practitioners to provide publicly funded services, with up to 30 contracts expected to be in place in the coming months.

The provincial government announced the expansion Tuesday, calling it a key step toward meeting its goal of ensuring every resident has access to a primary health-care provider by the end of 2028.

“These new Nurse Practitioner contracts put patients first by expanding access to publicly funded primary care services, helping more Saskatchewan families to get the care they need sooner and closer to home,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in a statement. “Our government is committed to improving access to quality care for every patient, no matter where they live.”

The initiative was developed in partnership with the Saskatchewan Association of Nurse Practitioners (SANP). Nurse practitioners, who are able to diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medications, order diagnostic tests and refer patients to specialists, are expected to play a larger role in expanding primary-care capacity across the province.

Michelle O’Keefe, president of SANP, said the expansion of the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Contract Program marks a significant step forward.

“The program opens the door for dedicated funding of NP services and increasing access to health care for Saskatchewan residents,” she said. “We are pleased that the initial pilot project has been expanded to offer up to 30 NPs a contract and will continue working with the Ministry of Health to diversify how funded NP services are delivered.”

The government first announced plans in 2024 to develop a funding model that would allow independent nurse practitioners to offer publicly funded care. An Expression of Interest process launched in June 2025 drew strong demand, prompting the province to raise the number of funded contracts from six to 30.

Nurse practitioner Hanna Latina, who practises with NPower+ Health, said the model allows for longer appointments and stronger patient relationships.

“This funding model supports long-term, relationship-based practice and allows me to spend time on thorough assessments and thoughtful follow-up,” she said. “For patients, it means timely access to a dedicated provider with no out-of-pocket cost.”

The Ministry of Health says it will continue working with SANP to implement the contract model and open more opportunities for nurse practitioners throughout the health system.

The province says the initiative will expand publicly funded primary-care options for families and provide an alternative to private-pay NP services.