Sask. struggles to recruit, retain techs as demand for mammograms grows
CBC
Saskatchewan continues to struggle to fill medical radiation technologist (MRT) positions in rural and urban areas.
Advocates say hiring more MRTs is essential to decreasing the wait times for women who want and need mammogram screening.
The supply issue in the province is especially under a microscope as the Ministry of Health continues its phased approach to drop the age qualification for mammogram booking without a doctor's referral from 50 to 40. At this time, women who are 43 and older qualify. The qualification age is expected to reach age 40 by June.
According to the Ministry of Health, nine full-time MRT positions outside Saskatoon and Regina have been created since January 2024:
The ministry said four of these positions are vacant with recruiting efforts underway. It's searching for potential candidates for North Battleford, Moose Jaw and Weyburn.
The province has incentive packages, including the Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive, valued up to $50,000 for people in one of the listed classifications and locations.
In an exclusive interview with CBC Saskatchewan, Health Minister Jeremy Cockill said the incentives have been “incredibly important” for filling positions in regional centres, where rural residents can drive in for mammogram screening.
“The more patients that we can keep in regional centres without needing to come to Regina, Saskatoon, obviously there's the travel and inconvenience piece too, but having care as close to home as possible is so important for people," Cockrill said.
Meanwhile, there are seven vacant part-time MRT positions in Regina, Saskatoon and the mobile mammogram unit.
Dr. Dennis Kendel, a retired physician and health policy consultant in Saskatoon, said high tuition for the MRT program at Sask. Polytechnic is part of the problem.
"It's reasonably costly, you know, to get the credential and get into the market. And so I guess it depends on how well we're compensating our MRTs," Kendel said, adding that the role is not limited to giving mammogram screenings.
CBC compared tuition costs for MRT training programs from four colleges in western Canada: BCIT, RRC Polytech, SAIT and Sask. Polytech.
Saskatchewan leads the pack with $33,660 for the whole MRT degree. The tuition for Manitoba's RRC Polyech program is less than half that cost. These tuition numbers do not include fees.
According to the Ministry of Health, 27 students graduated from the Sask. Polytech MRT program in 2025. Forty graduated in 2026 and 50 are set to graduate in 2027.
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