Achi news desk-
Dr. Anna-Maria Bozona is the only allergist in Saskatoon who sees children under 12, and now she’s moving to Alberta.
According to her, part of the reason for the move is her family’s struggle to find childcare for her baby twins.
“I think it’s a great place to raise a family, it’s just that finding childcare is daunting,” she said.
Another factor for Buzonia is the lack of pediatric specialists in the area. She said it was an added stressor for her and her colleagues, and she worries that if her own children were ill, there wouldn’t be enough supports for them.
“My kids are thankfully healthy so far, but you never know, so from a personal point of view it sucks, but also from an expert point of view – what do you do for these families?”
The Department of Health told CTV News there are 14 pediatrician vacancies in the province, including four and a half positions at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon.
Health Minister Everett Hindley said the province is working to fill those positions.
“According to my understanding from NIS officials, a number of them – I believe more than half of them – are in the process of being implemented in practice. They have candidates who have applied for the position and they are working on canceling contracts,” he said.
Hindley said the district offers competitive salaries and benefits to recruit specialists.
But the NDP believes more needs to be done.
“This government’s failure to have an effective plan, not an ambitious plan, but an effective plan, has meant that we’re seeing service closings in communities across the province,” said NDP Leader Carla Beck.
Meanwhile Dr. Bozona is scheduled to start in Alberta on June 1 and said her current patients can still be referred to her, if needed.
“So I’ll probably still see a lot of patients in Saskatchewan, I just don’t think it’s fair to the families that have to travel,” she said.
Bosonea said she wants to encourage patients to advocate for themselves and for improvements in the health care system.
