Government of Yukon provides updates on Health Human Resources progress

The Government of Yukon has made significant progress to address the Yukon’s health human resource challenges since the release of the Yukon’s Health Human Resources Strategy in December 2023.

Actions and accomplishments thus far include:

• ­­Providing an additional $120,000 to support the Yukon Medical Association to enhance its physician recruitment program and $20,000 to hire a Medical Advisor to support developing a medical residency program.
• Signing a four-year funding agreement with the Government of Canada through the Foreign Credential Recognition Project to support the integration of internationally educated health professionals in the Yukon.
• Engaging through anonymous surveys and in-person focus groups with health and social professionals from the Government of Yukon, Yukon Hospital Corporation and Kwanlin Dün First Nation and physicians through the Yukon Medical Council, to gain insights into lived experience and ideas to support the development of initiatives to retain and recruit health professionals in the Yukon.
• Participation in career fairs across Canada to promote health and social services positions in the Yukon.
• Since January 2023, the Department of Health and Social Services has hired a total of 198 nursing positions including 145 Registered Nurses and 53 Licenced Practical Nurses.

As of February 23, 2024, the Community Nursing vacancy rate dropped to approximately 15 per cent for Primary Health Care Nurses. This is a significant improvement from the 47 per cent vacancy rate for Primary Health Care Nurses on July 15, 2022, and the 39 per cent vacancy rate for Primary Health Care Nurses on December 6, 2022.

The Government of Yukon will aim to share the next progress update in April 2024.