$5.4 million federal investment to advance healthcare, accessibility in northern Sask

The federal government has committed another $5.4 million to a state-of-the-art virtual health centre that is aiming to transform healthcare for those in rural and remote areas.

The Virtual Health Hub (VHH), currently being constructed on Whitecap Dakota First Nation, is an Indigenous-led healthcare organization to deliver real-time remote medical care to rural and northern communities in the province.

Using virtual care technology, AI, and robotic systems with local healthcare teams, patients will be assessed and receive care in real time, in their own communities.

“People that live in remote and rural communities, especially Indigenous communities, have substantial problems getting access to healthcare,” said Dr. Ivar Mendez, CEO of the VHH.

“What the Virtual Health Hub wants to do is bring healthcare to where the person is, rather than the person coming to a centralized location.”

The $5.4 million investment from the federal government is in addition to the $28.2 million Indigenous Services Canada has already invested toward the construction of the facility, which is expected to open in early 2027.

Mendez said the new funding will be used to facilitate the transfer of their office in downtown Saskatoon to the new building in Whitecap Dakota First Nation, and to keep operations going. The VHH currently already provides services to about 18 communities.

“I believe the future of health care is taking shape right here in Whitecap Dakota First Nation through the innovation this community is leading,” said Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services.

“This new model will bring high-quality health services to some of the most remote communities across the province.”

A 2025 report from the Angus Reid institute revealed that over 300,000 Saskatchewan residents lack a family doctor, and roughly 63 percent of Saskatchewan residents have trouble accessing primary care when needed.

“In rural and remote populations, there is a great barrier to accessing timely healthcare. The outcomes for the people in northern communities are very poor,” said Mendez.

Death from a preventable cause is twice as high in northern Saskatchewan as it is in the southern area of the province, which is a reflection of the lack of timely access to healthcare, said Mendez. He also said patients in emergency rooms in urban centres can wait eight to ten hours before seeing a doctor, and are often treated in hallways or waiting rooms.