Local resident Gail Baker has sent a letter to Northern Health Region CEO Helga Bryant regarding the departure of Physician Assistant Jan Drutz from the Flin Flon Clinic. She says we have a shortage of doctors as everybody knows, waiting times are long and Jan was willing to do walk-in clinics as well as have his own clinics and he saw probably more patients than a lot of the doctors do. Baker invited Bryant to an information meeting planned within the next few weeks to discuss a way to rescind the decision and petitions have been placed around town to be presented to Premier Pallister.
In response yesterday the Health Region stated as of January 24th Mr. Drutz is no longer licensed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and therefore cannot be employed by the Northern Health Region as a physician assistant. Regulated health professionals such as a Doctor, Physician Assistant or Nurse must have a license in good standing in order to practices their profession in Manitoba. They add having said that licensing issues are matters between the regulated health professional and his or her licensing body, in most cases their College. They conclude once Jan Drutz resolves his registration/licensing issues with the College of Physicians and Surgeons he will be employable.
